IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


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D 


D 


D 


D 
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Coloured  covers/ 
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I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
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Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


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10X 

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laire 
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1/ 
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empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —»>( meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


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dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  seion  le 
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symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


aire 


iVIaps.  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
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right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


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et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


by  errata 
fied  to 

ent 

une  pelure. 

Fapon  it 


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3 

32X 


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3 

4 

5 

6 

V 


EECOLLECTIONS 


OP 


LIFE 


IN 


VANDIEMAN'S  LAND; 


BY  WILLIAM  GATES: 

ONE    OP    THE    CANADIAN    PATRIOTS. 


*'Jk  good  man  commendeth  his  cause  to  the  one  great  Patron  of  Inno- 
Cv:;ce,  convinced  of  justice  at  the  last,  and  sure  of  good  meanwhile. 


liOCKPORT  $ 

D.  S.  GRAND  ALL,   PRINTER; 

OFFICE  OF  THE  LOOEPORT  DAILY  COURIER. 

•      *     •     • 

1850. 


PREFACE. 


>s 


The  question  may  be  asked,  why  another  narrative  of  tlie  "Cana 
Jian  Patriots"  should  be  thrust  upon  the  Public:  ''There  is  no  donhi 
they  sullered;  but  what  i9  that  to  benefit  us]"  Very  well.  There  was 
an  effort  made,  that  the  Canadas  should  have  the  full  and  free  blessing* 
of  Liberty.  That  effort,  all  know,  failed  of  its  immediate  object,  and 
some  of  those  engaged  in  the  movement  were  forced  away,  like  a  gam.; 
of  most  degraded  felons,  compelled  to  drud^je  out  several  years  of  unmit- 
igated oppression,  without  law  to  sanction  the  cruelly! 

Is  not  ihis  a  theme  worthy  to  write  upon?  and  should  not  sucli  base- 
ness be  laid  bare,  and  the  truth  unfolded,  that  those  who  wish  may  learn  ? 
Aye,  and  so  it  should! 

Besides,  has  not  each  of  the  sufferers  friends  who  are  anxious  to 
know  whereof  he  hath  suffered?  and  is  it  not  laudable  to  satisfy  tl)at 
curiosity? 

These  considerations  have  induced  the  author  to  yield  to  the  impor- 
tunities of  his  friends,  iind  appear  in  this  manner,  for  the  first  time,  be- 
fore the  Public.  He  is  aware  that  several  narratives  have  been  written 
by  his  comrades,  who  returned  before  him  to  the  United  States.  But  of 
them  all,  he  has  had  no  opportunity  of  seeing  only  one— that  of  Robert 
Marsh.  He  has  accordingly  penned  his  "Recollections"  without  re- 
gard to  whatever  statements  may  have  been  made  by  them;  and  only,  as 
matters  and  things  occurred,  or  appeared  to  him  alone.  Had  he  pos- 
sessed literary  talents,  he  might  have  made  his  little  work  not  only  much 
more  interesting,  but  highly  instructive.  It  has,  however,  the  virrue  of 
being  the  plain  truth,  without  any  attempt  at  varnish. 

It  cannot  be  expected  that  for  so  long  a  period,  one  could  retain 
vivid  impressions  of  every  circumstance  that  might  have  transpired. 
The  prisoners  were  not  allowed  to  keep  the  slightest  vestige  of  a  journal ; 
and  for  his  own  part,  the  author  had  no  desire  to  do  so,  as  he  then  saw 
no  probability  of  ever  getting  home  again;  nor  did  he  have  any  idea  of 
writing  a  volume  upon  the  subject,  though  he  should  be  so  fortunate  as 
to  return.  He  has  not,  therefore,  detailed  all  the  particulars  of  his  situa- 
tion; besides,  there  were  many  things  our  men  were  forced  to  endure, 
<hat  were  too  disgusting  to  be  admitted  in  print,  and  quite  too  inhuman 


to  mention.  Still  he  has  unveiled  enough  to  show  with  what  barharitf 
man  rules  it  there  over  hia  fellow  man.  He  has  given  dates  and  figurei 
only  when  they  are  well  remembered. 

Hoping  it  may  do  its  share  of  good,  this  volume  is  laid  befbrc  the 
People;  and  whether  it  shall  meet  with  their  favor  or  frowns,  the  wri- 
ter has  a  consciousness  of  a  good  intention. 

That  it  may  meet  with  encouragement  sufficient  to  give  him  help  to 
assist  in  maintaining  his  aged  parents,  he  is  frank  to  confess  is  his  wish« 
Beyond  this,  he  has  no  other  purpose  to  subserve,  than  the  cause  of 
Truth,  and  tlie  gratification  of  those  many  friends  through  whose  soli- 
citations he  was  induced  to  undertake  the  work-,  and  to  whom  it  is  now 
respectfully  dedicated,  by 

THE  AUTHOR. 
VViLfOi*,  N.  Y..  AfRit,  1850, 


■ ' '  1    ''  f" 


.      ..''HA  !■    \     ■■ 


•?■'•?   ■.■■■■>    1  -.i.l 


RECOLLECTIONS 


or 


MWM  M  HAW  MlMAff  ^  MM, 


CHAPTER    I. 

INTRODUCTORY  —  THE  "HUNTER's  LODGE" STAND 

AT  THE  WINDMILL. 

It  is  not  my  intention  here  to  enter  into  any  dis- 
quisition upon  the  causes  that  led  to  the  Patriot  Move- 
ment, in  the  years  '37  and  '38,  which  had  for  its  ob- 
ject, the  Uberation  of  the  Canadas  from  British  mis- 
rule and  oppression.  Nor  shall  I  speak  at  length  of 
the  causes  that  lee  to  its  signal  failure.  Though 
that  enterprise  did  fail  of  its  great  object,  yet  I  am 
one  who  think  it  has  wrought  some  good  to  the 
Provinces.  ^  .      .        ^ 

England  saw  plainly  there  was  disaffection  amongst 
her  colonists,  and  though  she  sent  hordes  of  armed 
men  to  overawe  them,  still  she  was  sensible  enough 
to  know,  that  unless  she  abated  iii  some  measure  the 
rigor  of  her  rule,  there  was  but  little  hope  of  long 
retaining  them  as  attachments  to  her  royal  throne. 
As  a  consequence,  somewhat  of  a  more  liberal  poli- 
cy has  been  pursued.     The  severity  of  their  ^riev- 


6 


IXTRODUCTORY. 


nnces  has  grown  less,  and  the  Canadianfjnow  rejoice 
in  the  enjoyment  of  greater  privileges  than  thcytlid 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  "rehellion,"  as  the  minions  of 
royalty  arc  pleased  to  term  it.  May  Heaven  speed 
the  time  wiicn  they  too,  like  the  favored  people  of 
our  own  glad  Repuhlic,  shall  sit  under  their  vines 
and  fig  trees  without  molestation,  and  in  that  full  and 
froolii)ertv  which  is  the  inalienable  boon  of  aZ/  men. 
And  if  it  shall  come  without  the  farther  jjouring  out 
of  blood,  how  much  sweeter  and  more  unalloyed  will 
bo  tiie  ha})piness'.         '    ' 

But  that  these  "Patriots"  actedhoncstly  in  allthat 
they  did — that  they  helievcd  the  Provinces  ripe  for 
shaking  off  the  yoke  of  British  bondage,  and  striking 
effectually  for  their  liherty,  none  with  unbiased  minds 
can  doubt.  Living  themselves  within  its  glorious 
radiance,  they  could  but  feel  a  strong  sympathy  that 
their  neighbors  should  also  enjoy  it  too;  so  when 
they  saw  those  neigW^ors  making  demonstrations  to 
secure  the  boon,  they  could  but  feel  their  hearts  burn 
v.'ithin  their,  to  go  and  give  them  aid.     -■'   •"•  •■■'    '-r'- 

To  be  sure,  the  Canadians  had  not  so  great. and 
grievous  cause  to  sti'ike  for  their  liberties,  as  had  our 
ov/n  ftithers;  jet  they  had  enough,  and  more  than 
enough,  to  urge  them  to  a  decided  stand.  They  were 
oppressed  in  many  things,  and  Royalty  refused  to 
remove  their  burthens.  Then  why  should  they  not 
assert  their  rights  and  stand  forth  in  the  defence  of 
them?  And  wherein  was  the  crime  of  giving  them 
aid?     Surely  he  who  would  argue  it,  is  more  fit  for 


:  I 


INTRODUCTORY. 


'\ni 


the  barbarian  servitude  of  some  Asiatic  despot.  Nay, 
those  Americans  who  acted  in  synipjithy  witli  their 
oppressed  neighbors,  have  earned,  not  the  curses  of 
tlieir  countrymen,  but  pniiso  in  well-doing.  If  by 
their  actions  they  have  merited  opprobrium,  then  were 
the  French  most  unmitigated  rascals,  for  presuming  to 
listen  to  American  entreaties,  until  France  sent  forth 
her  sons  to  aid  his  most  gracious  Majesty's  colonial 
subjects  in  breaking  from  their  royal  thraldom. 
Yea,  and  so  were  those  brave  souls — Steuben,  Dc 
Kalb,  Kosciusko,  La  Fayette!  The  only  difference 
is,  they  were  successfull,  we  and  the  Canadians  were 
not. 

The  first  blow  struck  in  the  Province,  if  I  recol- 
lect, was  in  Yonge  street  in  Toronto,  which  proved 
an  entire  failure.  There  seems  to  have  been  some 
unexplained  misunderstanding  among  the  leaders. 
Though  it  did  fail,  it  served  to  rouse  up  a  greater 
feeling,  not  only  in  Canada,  but  along  the  American 
border.  The  course  pursued  by  the  Canadian  Gov- 
ernment also  fanned  the  flame.  Worthy  citizens, 
suspected  by  those  in  power,  were  compelled  to  flee 
the  Provinces  to  ensure  their  lives;  leaving  not  only 
their  property  to  be  confiscated,  but  their  families  to 
the  merciless  protection  of  the  jackals  of  royalty. 
These  men,  coming  in  our  midst,  seeking  an  asylum 
and  recounting  the  story  of  their  wrongs,  gave  great- 
er impetus  to  the  sympathy  burning  in  American  bo- 
soms, whilst  the  flame  spread  farther  and  wider 
among  the  people.      ^  ^  .  :  ..  ;  ■•;    .     .  ;.  «  .       ;  -  - 


rNTHODUCTOIlY. 


Failing  in  Toronto,  a  stand  was  made  upon  Navy 
Island,  where  those  who  wished  to  act  in  defence  of 
Canadian  freedom  could  rendezvous  till  a  more  aus- 
picious moment  should  arrive  for  striking  an  effec- 
tual blow.  This  island  contained  some  three  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  covered  with  a  forest  and  situated  in 
British  waters,  between  Chippewa  and  Grand  Island,  a 
mile  from  the  American  shore,  and  three-fourths  from 
the  Canadian.  Wm.  L.  McKenzie  and  Gen.  Van 
Rensselaer  had  command  at  this  point.  By  thts 
time  the  excitement  was  getting  pretty  general,  run- 
ning to  quite  a  high  pitch  along  the  whole  frontier 
and  extending  backward  to  a  considerable  distance 
toward  the  interior.  Meetings  were  held  in  all  quar- 
ters. Resolutions  and  speeches,  glowing  with  pat- 
riotism and  valor,  were  read,  spoken  and  published. 
The  friends  of  Canada  took  greater  courage  and  flat- 
tered themselves  that  truly  the  time  and  the  hour 
had  come  for  her  redemption.  Societies  in  many 
places  were  formed,  under  the  title  of  "  The  Hunt- 
ers' Lodge,"  having  for  their  object  the  more  effec- 
tual aid  and  assistance  of  the  people  of  Canada. 
Men  of  all  classes,  ages  and  distinctions — those  of 
influence  and  station,  as  well  as  those  who  were  poor 
and  illiterate — enrolled  themselves  members,  till  the 
"  Hunters"  were  swelled  to  many  thousands  in  num- 
ber. 

The  island  was  entrenched  with  tree  tops  and  by 
other  means,  and  the  little  band  continued  to  receive 
wiutorcements  and  supplies,  but  not  in  sufficient  num- 


INTRODUCTORY. 


« 


bers  and  quantity  to  warrant  a  demonstration  on  shore. 
The  royal  soldiers  at  Chippewa  kept  up  an  inoffen- 
sive cannonading  for  many  days.      Sentries  were 
placed  along  shore,  and  other  means  resorted  to,  to 
prevent  those  who  wished  leaving  for  the  island. 
The  Liberals  were  anxiously  waiting  for  the  landing 
of  Van  Rensselaer,  when  they  would  join  his  ranks 
in  large  numbers.       Owing  to  this  presence  of  the 
soldiery,  the  little  band  were  almost  wholly  depend- 
ent upon  reinforcements  from  the  American  side,  till 
they  should  be  sufficiently  strong  to  make  a  perma- 
nent stand  against  the  troops  on  the  other  shore.    To 
the  island  were  many  visitors,  impelled  thither  by 
curiosity,  and  in  some  instances  by  a  desire  of  aid- 
ing and  counselling  the  band.     From  many  of  these 
the  leaders  received  strong  assurances  of  much  help, 
and  the  little  band  looked  forward  to  the  hour  that 
seemed  close  at  hand,  when  they  should  commence 
their  movements. 

During  this  time,  the  little  steamer  Caroline  came 
down  from  Buffalo,  bringing  passengers  and  freight, 
a  part  of  which  she  landed  at  the  island;  and  for  the 
pecuniary  benefit  of  her  owners,  she  was  employed 
for  a  short  time  in  carrying  passengers  and  freight  to 
and  from  the  island,  mooring  herself  at  nightfall  at 
the  old  Schlosser  wharf.  Whilst  reposing  here  in 
fancied  security,  a  company  of  British  soldiers,  head- 
ed by  Col.  McNab,  stole  stealthily,  and  under  cover 
of  midnight  darkness,  from  the  opposite  shore,  board- 
ed her  while  under  the  protection  of  the  American 


10 


INTRODUCTORY/ 


eagle,  killing  some  and  wounding  others  of  her  crew; 
when,  cutting  her  loose  and  applying  the  torch,  she 
was  sent  adrift  upon  the  foamin^^  billows  of  Niagara, 
with  how  many  souls  on  board  to  take  the  awful 
plunge  of  that  dread  cataract,  none  but  the  Eternal 
may  know.  And  these  stealthy  midnight  assassins 
crept  back  again  to  their  own  soil,  and  gloried  in  the 
deed  they  had  done!  ^ 

The  then  governor  of  New  York  reported  the  mat- 
ter plausibly  to  him  who  sat  in  the  executive  of  the 
nation.  But  instead  of  stoutly  asserting  American 
rights,  he  crouched — I  might  almost  say  abjectly 
crouched — at  the  feet  of  the  British  lion.  Then  it 
was,  our  Executive  made  haste  to  do  the  wishes  of 
her  majesty's  pleasure,  in  striving  to  put  down  the 
burst  of  indignation  that  was  showing  itself  in  the 
congregatio'i  of  men  and  munitions  for  the  Patriot 
cause.  It  seemed  that  those  who  managed  the  helm 
of  government,  frightened  by  the  roar  of  the  royal 
whelp,  were  vieing  with  that  royalty  itself  to  crush 
the  rising  of  the  oppressed  for  hberty's  sake. 

McNab,  fearing  his  Ufe  .  .ot  safe  on  tliis  side  the 
Atlantic,  afterward  returned  to  England,  where,  with 
"Prince  John,"  Van's  favorite  boy,  lie  had  the  un- 
speakable fehcity  of  kissing  the  Queen's  hand!  Eng- 
land had  sanctioned  the  deed,  and  as  a  reward  for  his 
invincible  prnvess,  the  hero  received  a  degree  of 
royal  knighthood!     ;■,    .       ^  •       ,:•:*. 

The  President  had  sent  forth  his  proclamation,  out- 
lawing those  who  should  engage  in  the  cause,  whilst 


>2 


INTRODUCTORY. 


11 


'crew; 

h,  she 
lagara, 

awful 
internal 
sassins 

in  the 

le  mat- 
of  the 
lerican 
bjectly 
hen  it 
hes  of 
vn  the 
in  the 
Patriot 
Q  helm 
royal 
crush 

de  the 
e,  with 
he  un- 
Eng- 
for  his 
ree  of 

n,  out- 
whilst 


government  forwarded  troops  to  put  in  force  the 
proclamation  and  effeciualy  prevent  the  enlistment 
of  American  citi  ns.  Through  these  means  the 
Patriot  force  found  itself  cramped,  and  without  suffi- 
cient numhers  to  wararrant  an  attack  on  shore.  As 
receiving  recruits  from  either  shore  was  out  of  the 
question  now,  it  was  concluded  to  abandon  the  scheme 
for  the  time,  and  therefore,  on  the  12th  of  Jan.  1838, 
Navy  Island  was  evacuated,  and  those  there  congre- 
gated, dispersed  for  other  places  and  other  points. 
After  this,  not  much  was  done  in  the  way  of  active 
measures,  save  a  little  skirmishing  towards  the  upper 
end  of  the  province.  Things  remained  rather  quiet 
through  the  country,  though  the  subject  itself  was  by 
no  means  dormant.    -    •  '•       '•    •;:f.  ■         - 

Trials  and  executions  were  going  forward  on  the 
other  side,  and  the  adherents  of  royalty  were  chuck- 
ling among  themselves  that  the  effort  was  quite  sig- 
nally crushed.  Consequently,  feehng  secure  in  their 
position,  thoy  were  talking  with  much  bravado  of 
their  prowess  and  skill  over  the  poor  Patriots  whose 
hopes  were  laid  low.  Nevertheless,  those  "rebels" 
had  feelings,  and  they  were  but  waiting  a  favorable 
opportunity  to  prove  that  the  love  of  freedom  was  not 
yet  extinguished  in  their  bosoms.   ''~^    -  ?>njy*^'ro  .     ... 

During  all  this  time,  I  had  resided  'Within  the  midst 
of  the  excitement,  and,  in  common  with  all  my  neigh- 
bors, I  felt  the  spirit  stirring  my  youthful  blood  in 
sympathy  for  the  down-trodden  of  England's  rule; 
and  being  naturally  of  an  impulsive  nature,  I  could 


n 


INTRODUCTORY. 


not  remain  an  idle  spectator  in  the  midst  of  such  stir- 
ring times*  Accordingly,  in  the  month  of  Novem- 
ber, 1837,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  I  entered  the 
"Hunters'  Lodge,"  at  Cape  Vincent,  in  the  town  of 
Lyme,  which  place  had  for  several  years  been  my 
residence.  During  the  following  spring  and  sum- 
mer, nothing  of  importance  occurred  in  my  vicinity. 
Stated  meetings  of  the  lodge  were  were  held,  and  all 
stood  in  readiness  to  act  when  the  proper  time  should 
come.  Toward  November,  1838,  that  time  seemed 
to  be  drawing  nigh.  Demonstrations  were  to  be 
made  simultaneously,  or  nearly  so,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Kingston,  and  at  the  upper  part  of  the  province,  and 
if  successful,  the  armies  were  to  press  forward  and 
form  a  junction;  when,  with  the  numbers  that  would 
flock  about  the  triumphant  standard  of  liberty,  we 
might  put  at  defiance  whatever  force  Britain  might 
send  against  us. 

With  six  others,  I  left  my  home  on  the  4th  of  No- 
vember, '38,  for  Sacketts  Harbor,  where  at  midnight 
we  arrived,  and  expected  to  find  the  steamer  United 
States,  upon  which  we  were  to  embark,  to  go  whith- 
er, our  ofl[icers  who  had  ordered  us  hither,  only 
knew.  There  were  a  hundred  others  here  on  the 
same  errand  o,s  ourselves.  After  waiting  awhile  for 
the  steamer,  and  ascertaining  there  was  not  much 
prospect  of  her  being  along  for  a  day  or  two,  we  re- 
turned again  *o  Cape  Vincent.  The  next  Sunday, 
Nov.  16th,  I  again  started  with  several  others  for  a 
place  known  as  Millen's  Bay.     Here  we  found  a 


INTRODUCTORY. 


18 


ch  stir- 
sTovem- 
red  the 
Dwn  of 
en  my 
d  sum- 
icinity, 
and  all 
I  should 
seemed 
e  to  be 
inity  of 
ce,  and 
Lrd  and 
t  would 
•ty,  we 
L  might 

ofNo- 
lidnight 
United 

whith- 
r,  only 

on  the 
hile  for 
t  much 
,  we  re- 
Junday, 
s  for  a 
bund  a 


schooner  with  a  hundred  men,  waiting  the  appear- 
ance of  the  steamer.  About  dusk  we  hailed  it  com- 
ing down  the  river  from  Oswego.  Our  schooner 
then  pushed  from  the  wharf  into  the  river,  and  soon 
after  was  taken  in  tow.  About  a  mile  further  down, 
another  schooner  with  about  the  same  complement 
of  men  was  also  attached  to  the  boat,  which  now  put 
on  steam  for  Prescott.  Upon  the  boat,  which  was 
the  same  we  had  looked  for  at  Sacketts  Harbor,  and 
on  board  the  two  schooners,  were  above  two  hundred 
men,  with  a  fair  supply  of  provisions,  arms  and  am- 
munition. 

It  was  a  bright  moonlight  evening,  and  we  were 
indeed  a  happy  band.  We  had  full  confidence  in  our 
cause,  as  a  just  and  noble  one.  We  belie vd  we  were 
about  to  do  our  neighbors  a  deed  of  charity,  such  as 
tlie  golden  rule  inculcates,  when  it  teaches  us  to  do 
to  our  fellows  as  we  would  they  should  do  to  us.  We 
believed  our  Canadian  neighbors  to  be  struggling  for 
that  freedom  which  we  were  enjoying,  and  which 
with  a  little  aid  they  would  be  successful  in  securing. 
Was,  it  therefore  wrong  that  we  should  stifle  our  feel- 
ings and  refuse  to  act  out  our  sympathy?  For  one, 
I  can  place  no  credit  in  that  charity  which  does  not 
exhibit  itself  by  its  works.  That  we  should  fail,  we 
had  no  idea;  though  others  have  since  declarf  I  that 
they  "  knew  we  should  fail."  Possibly  some  of  them 
did;  and  we  might  perhaps  have  known  it  too,  had 
we  been  gifted  with  prescience,  whereby  we  might 
xnave  discovered  their  patriotism  to  be  only  "lipser- 


14 


INTRODUCTORY. 


I. 


vice,"  and  that  they  were  fully  determined  to  turn 
traitors  to  all  their  solemn  protestations.  With  such 
Patriots(!)  as  these  rests  the  guilt  of  bloodshed  and 
of  suffering,  which  their  fellow  Americans  endured 
at  the  hands  of  British  tyrants.  Nay,  'twas  the  sin 
of  such  valorous  souls  that  we  expiated — not  of  us, 
who,  having  taken  a  position,  valiantly  sustained  it 
till  fighting  longer  was  fblly.  -  "''•^^•'^  ''"^  ^''^■''"  '•' 
The  charge  has  been  made  that  we  were  but  a 
band  of  marauders,  seeking  the  spoils  of  honest  peo- 
ple. Those  who  were  aught  acquainted  with  us  and 
with  the  times,  know  that  such  an  object  was  far  re- 
mo\ed  from  our  designs.  Only  those  maliciously 
disposed,  would  make  the  charge,  and  but  the  igno- 
rant give  credence  to  it.  Of  my  own  acquaintance 
and  myself,  I  knoio  that  no  such  motive  entered  our 
thoughts.  Nor  did  the  movements  or  plans  of  our 
leaders  savor  of  such  an  object,  at  least  so  far  as  my 
knowledge  extended.  I  had  parents,  brothers  and 
sisters,  who  were  unusually  endeared  to  me,  and 
whose  sweet  companionship  bound  me  strongly  to 
the  paternal  roof,  and  to  leave  these  for  the  precari^ 
ous  prospects  of  booty,  would  have  been  folly  indeed. 
There  were  other  feelings  wrought  upon  than  the 
selfish  ones:  and  I  may  say  it  without  boasting,  they 
were  those  of  philanthropy:  -  w^  •  •  •>  -i^^^i  -*  i'^rv 
i  It  was  indeed  hard  to  part  with  my  parents,  broth- 
ers and  risters;  yet  I  felt  impelled  by  a  sense  of  duty 
for  the  good  of  others,  to  assist  in  securing  for  them 
the  same  blessings  which  I  was  myself  enjoying. 


.^*!< 


i 


M 


INTRODUCTORY. 


16 


As  we  were  gliding  down  the  St.  Lawrence,  I  could 
but  revert  to  the  past  with  peculiar  feelings — feel- 
ings which  my  pen  fails  in  giving  utterance.  To 
the  future  I  looked  with  imagination's  eye,  and  fan- 
cied I  might  have  the  satisfaction  of  the  future  re- 
flection, that  I  was  one  of  those  who  aided  in  secur- 
ing full  hberty  to  Canada's  sons  and  daughters. — 
Then,  too,  the  thought  crossed  my  mind,  that  the 
swifl-winged  bullet  might  spring  the  current  of  life, 
and  leave  its  tide  to  ebb  in  death.  Yet  this  thought 
appalled  me  not,  but  seemed  rather  to  nerve  my 
frame  with  vigor,  and  give  to  my  mind  a  stronger 
determination  to  act  well  and  faithfully  my  part,  so 
long  as  hfe  should  be  mine.  .    ,  ;  .[    r.r  ^ 

During  the  next  forenoon  we  arrived  near  Pres- 
cott.  Here  the  schooners  were  detached,  and  ours 
in  attempting  to  make  the  wharf  ran  aground.  We 
soon  cleared  her,  and  then  dropped  down  the  river 
a  mile  to  Windmill  Point,  where  Colonel  Von  Shoultz 
and  the  men  aboard  effected  a  landing.  The  bank 
at  this  place  was  some  twenty  feet  in  height  and 
quite  precipitous.  With  much  toil  we  succeeded  in 
dragging  up  our  guns — one  twelve  pounder  and  two  ' 
brass  seven  pounders — when  we  took  possession  of 
a  circular  stone  windmill,  four  stories  in  height,  to- 
gether with  three  stone  outbuildings,  in  one  of  which 
was  a  family  residing  who  rendered  us  essential  aid. 
The  other  schooner  in  attempting  to  make  the  wharf 
also  run  fast  upon  the  same  bar,  farther  toward  the 
middle  of  the  river.     Whilst  we  were  landing,  those 


16 


INTRODUCTORY. 


II 


on  board  of  her  made  a  long  but  unsuccessful  attempt 
to  get  off.  Seeing  them  in  this  situation  the  British 
steamer  "Experiment"  made  a  demonstration  against 
them,  by  crossing  the  river  and  firing  upon  the 
schooner  as  she  approached.  Those  on  the  schoon- 
er seeing  the  necessity  of  standing  upon  their  de- 
fence, hauled  a  twelve  pounder  from  the  hold, 
charged  it  with  ball  and  grape,  then  leveling  it  at 
the  "Experiment"  it  was  discharged,  killing  eleven 
upon  the  crowded  deck  and  passing  a  ball  complete- 
ly through  her  wheel  house.  The  recoil  of  the  gun 
loosened  the  schooner  from  her  position  on  the  bar, 
when  she  sailed  for  Ogdensburg.  To  us  at  the 
windmill,  this  was  a  cruel  course  to  pursue,  for  they 
had  nearly  all  the  provisions  and  the  greater  share  of 
ammunition  and  arms.  Nevertheless,  we  confident- 
ly looked  for  her  return,  but  she  came  not.  Dur- 
ing that  night  we  were  reinforced  by  a  hundred  or 
more  from  Ogdensburg,  including  a  part  of  those  on 
board  the  schooner.  Before  dark,  and  after  the 
schooner  had  left  the  bar,  the  steamer  United  States 
sailed  out  from  the  harbor,  and  taking  somewhat  of 
'  a  circuitous  course,  approached  near  the  windmill 
shore,  and  whilst  but  a  little  below  Prescott,  a  shot 
was  fired  at  her  by  the  British  steamer  "Coburg," 
which  struck  the  man  at  the  wheel,  killing  him  in- 
fitantly  and  scattering  his  brains  over  the  deck. 

As  in  the  case  of  the  "Caroline,"  so  with  this;  no 
notice  was  taken  of  it  by  our  government.  It  was 
even  passed  over  in  more  dogged  silence,  and  it 


INTRODUCTORY! 


17 


attempt 
British 
against 
)on  the 
schoon- 
heir  de- 
hold, 
ig  it  at 
;  eleven 
>mplete- 
the  gun 
the  bar, 
s  at  the 
for  they 
share  of 
nfident- 
.  Dur- 
dred  or 
;hose  on 
fter  the 
d  States 
swhat  of 
nndmill 
f  a  shot 
oburg,'* 
him  in- 
jk. 

;his;  no 

It  was 

,  and  it 


seemed  M  if  our  chief  magistrate  had,  since  the  af- 
fair at  Schlosser,  lost  what  liule  valor  he  might  be- 
fore have  possessed.  Had  the  British  made  a  de- 
scent upon  his  cabbage  plantation,  the  world  might 
possibly  have  witnessed  an  outbreak  of  patriotism 
In  the  "Little  Magician."  But  when  American  blood 
was  spilled  upon  American  soil  and  on  American 
ships,  transgressing  no  international  laws,  the  "Sage 
of  Lindenwald  "  could  calmly  fold  his  arms  on  his 
breast  and  even  turn  round  and  assist  those  same 
murderers  in  quelling  an  outbreak  for  freedom! 

That  evening  Colonel  Worth,  with  the  United 
States  Marshall,  arrived  in  Ogdensburg,  and  straight- 
way seized  the  schooner,  the  steamer,  and  the  most 
of  the  ammunition  and  provisions  intended  for  our 
use,  thereby  effectually  cutting  off  our  supplies  and 
preventing  our  receiving  reinforcements.  The  pres- 
ence of  these  officers,  supported  as  they  were  by  the 
government,  overawed  the  timid  souls  who  "  knew 
the  patriots  would  fail,"  and  gave  their  weak  hearts  a 
plausable  excuse  to  remain  secure  from  danger. 
And  to  those  who  were  anxious  of  joining  the  little 
band,  impediments  were  thrown  in  their  way  which 
were  quite  impossible  to  overcome.  . 

Had  Canada  been  the  province  of  some  imbecile 
power,  our  government  would  never  have  made  that 
hot  haste  to  construe  the  laws  in  aid  of  royalty's 
schemes.  But  England  was  powerful,  and  our  rul- 
ers wished  to  curry  her  favor!  When  Texas  re- 
volted from  a  sister  republic,  our  men  were  permit- 

2 


I  I 


18 


INTHODUCTORY. 


ted  10  organize  companies  and  depart  armed  for  the 
scene  of  conflict;  and  the  matter  was  unnoticed  by 
our  government,  or  if  noticed,  merely  winked  at. — 
Mexico  was  weak — torn  by  intestine  factions.  She 
refused  the  black  curse  of  slavery  a  home  on  her  soil. 
Texas  was  determined  to  sustain  negro  servitude, 
and  revolted,  when  our  citizens  rushed  by  thousands 
to  her  aid,  and  enabled  her  to  sustain  the  position  she 
assumed.  Now  slavery  rules  in  the  dominion,  and 
she  has  been  taken  under  the  fostering  care  of  our 
own  eagle.  But  here  the  Canadians  were  groaning 
under  grievances  that  had  been  refused  redress.  To 
be  sure,  involuntary  servitude  had  no  footing,  nor 
was  there  any  possibility  it  ever  would;  yet  her  peo- 
ple were  evidently  striving  for  their  own  full  free- 
dom from  foreign  oppression.  Some  of  our  citizens 
become  fired  with  the  enthusiasm  and  strive  to  give  a 
helping  hand.  But  government  interposes  and  com- 
mands them  to  stay  at  home  and  suppress  their  sym- 
pathies as  unlawful,  and  then  takes  active  and  strin- 
gent measures  to  enforce  obedience.  Is  there  jus- 
tice in  the  two  cases?  What  spirit  could  have  actu- 
ated our  government  but  that  of  fear,  and  the  knowl- 
edge that  human  servitude  could  find  no  extension  at 
the  north?  At  this  time,  along  the  whole  northern 
frontier  the  movements  of  our  citizens  were  strictly 
guarded,  and  thus  the  Canadian  effort  for  liberty  was 
quelled,  not  so  much  by  her  majesty's  troops  quar- 
tered in  the  provinces,  as  by  that  government  which, 
above  all  others,  boasts  the  truest  freedom  of  any  na- 
tion on  the  earth! 


\ 


■>-r 


»8b-T 


■'% 


INTRODUCTORY. 


1« 


for  the 
ced  by 
cl  at. — 
She 
ersoil. 
vitude, 
usands 
on  she 
»n,  and 
of  our 
oaning 
3.     To 
g,  nor 

QY  poo- 

1  free- 
itizens 
give  a 
d  coni- 
r  sym- 
1  strin- 
'e  jus- 
J  actu- 
mowl- 
5ion  at 
t'thern 
trictl}' 
y  was 
quar- 
diich, 
iy  na- 


M 


4 


« 


i 


It  was  now  evident  we  were  to  rely  upon  our  own 
resources,  which  were  feeble  enough.  We  were  a 
small  band  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  souls,  with 
but  four  days*  provision  at  the  most,  and  a  very  scanty 
supply  of  ammunition.  Yet  our  hearts  fainted  not, 
though  deserted  by  friends  and  left  on  foreign  soil, 
with  no  prospect  of  effecting  anything  decisive  in 
our  then  situation.  Our  leader.  Von  Shoultz,  was  a 
man  that  knew  no  fear,  and  were  there  any  among 
us  disposed  to  falter,  they  could  not  well  do  it  under 
the  influence  of  his  noble  bearing  and  cool  self-reli- 
ance. Nevertheless,  our  hopes  of  receiving  addi- 
tions did  not  entirely  desert  us.  We  had  expected 
large  companies  to  follow  us,  enough  to  have  made  a 
triumphant  ingress,  and  which  would  have  enabled 
us  to  make  such  a  stand  in  the  country  that  all  who 
wished  could  have  joined  us.  With  the  faint  hope 
that  some  of  them  would  remember  their  solemn  pro- 
testations, and  evading  the  surveilance,  join  our  stand- 
ard— we  toiled  that  night  with  all  our  alacrity  in  the 
strengthening  of  our  position. 

About  ten  o'clock  a  friend  arrived  from  Kingston, 
a  distance  of  fifty  miles,  bringing  the  intelligence  of 
an  attack  upon  our  position  from  land  and  water  by 
nine  the  next  morning.  This  news,  instead  '■^^blanch- 
ing our  cheeks  or  palzying  our  han'J  '  '  .i  fear, 
served  only  to  nerve  us  with  more  ene  ^,,  and  to 
bind  our  little  band  closer  one  to  another.  There  ap- 
peared in  the  actions  of  all  that  firm  reliance  and  un- 
conquerable resolution,  which  were  sure  to  win  laurels 


20 


INTRODUCTORT. 


from  fields  where  the  odds  wore  even  against  them . 
In  i\  ^expressions  and  conversations  of  the  men, 
there  y^  m  evident  anxiety  that  the  morniiig  should 
come,  v/hen  we  could  have  a  chance  to  measure  our 
strength  with  the  red  coats.  Wo  knew  not  what  the 
result  might  bo,  yet  we  were  impatient  to  have  tho 
time  advance,  that  we  might  know  whereof  we  had 
to  do. 


^ 


li 


f  '  '   •     "I  X 


•{    ! 


."iti 


.t 


}"■    .* , 


yhUl 


,t-.<j 


t7";.)r=   jTri'i!  o<:'.:'    <.:a{  '.SjO  .!,..■ 

r 


:'i    ': 


:»/;' 


rnjJirt   {iXrv;. 'tn   -  .vi'-vi  ,'%t     .?     /  h'^v'f..:  * 


'!i 


3t  them, 
le  men, 
should 
ureour 
vhaX  the 
avo  the 
we  had 


CHAPTER    II. 


TRANSACTIONS     AT    THE    WINDMILL    AND    VICINITY. 

At  length  the  morning  dawned,  the  hours  of  which 
went  slowly  forward.  Our  company  were  impatient, 
and  kept  an  anxious  looking  towards  Kingston. 
Some  even  chid  the  time  that  it  passed  so  slowly, 
wondering  why  her  majesty's  troops  were  so  tardy 
in  coming.  Nine  o'clock  had  passed.  Presently, 
however,  three  steamers  were  espied  whose  decks 
were  crowded  with  the  regulars,  coming  down  th« 
river.  About  the  same  time — "  For  God's  sake  look 
yonder,"  exclaimed  a  comrade,  when,  casting  our 
eyes  along  the  road  toward  Kingston,  we  saw  what, 
in  comparison  to  our  little  band,  was  an  innumerable 
host,  pressing  along  the  road  and  issuing  from  the 
woods  on  our  left.  It  appeared  they  had  followed 
the  river  till  quite  within  sight,  when  a  part  filed  off 
to  encompass  us  in  such  a  manner  aa  should  pre- 
Tent  any  escape  on  our  part. 

Still  their  columns  continued  fiUing  up  in  the  rear 
till  the  river  banks,  fields  and  woods,  appeared  alive 
with  the  red  coats.  Soon  afler,  they  formed  in  battk 
array,  displaying  their  numbers  to  as  great  advant- 


22 


TRANSACTIONS    AT 


ngc  as  possible,  and  with  what  pomp  and  parade  they 
wcro  masters  of,  to  strike  dismay  into  the  bosoms  of 
our  little  band.  To  me,  who  had  never  seen  so  large 
a  compnny  of  soldiers  drawn  up  for  fighting,  the  sight 
was  indood  imposing.  But  the  displny  failed  of  its 
intended  otFect,  for  instead  of  being  frightened  from 
our  wits,  and  going  out  upon  our  knees  and  imjdor- 
ing  their  gracious  clemency,  we  strengthened  each 
others  henrts  with  kind  words  and  valiant  counsels, 
and  gave  heed  to  the  cheering  advice  of  our  good 
leader,  upon  whom  all  of  us  had  come  to  look  with 
a  strong  feeling  of  affection.  Wo  could  but  admire 
him  for  his  many  shining  qualities,  and  love  him  for 
his  virtues.     No  doubt  it  was  a  wonderment  to  her 

• 

gracious  majesty's  hirelings,  that  the  handful  of  reb- 
els were  so  presumptions  as  to  entertain  the  idea  of 
resisting  those  who  had  come  down  like  a  sv.-arm  of 
locusts  to  devour  us  from  the  face  of  the  earth. 
. .  At  half  past  nine  our  men  held  a  council,  and  full 
powers  of  command  were  conferred  on  Von  ShouHz. 
Those  who  were  to  have  taken  the  higher  grades  of 
o.uce,  through  cowardice  or  otherwise,  deserted  our 
cause.     Yon  Shoultz  had  acted  as  a  subordinate  offi- 
cer till  now,  though  in  the  absence  of  the  others  we 
had   looked   to   him   for  counsel  and  guidance. — 
Thanking  the  men  for  their  generous  confidence, 
he  asked  them   whether  we  should  remain  in  our 
position  and  act  entirely  on  the  defensive,  or  meet 
them   in  the  field.       Unanimously  .  we   chose  the 
latter,         -  "    '  "^  ii-  '  .-i  '--■  ?.-  '^- 


i 


THE    WINDMILL. 


23 


e  they 
oins  of 
0  large 

0  sight 
of  its 

1  from 
ij)lor- 

1  eacli 
insels, 
I*  good 
k  with 
u-l  mi  ro 
ni  for 
:o  her 
)f  reb- 
lea  of 
rm  of 

id  full 
ouh'z. 
les  of 
1  our 
J  offi- 
s  we 
;e.— 
Jnce, 
I  our 
meet 
the 


Wo  were  accordingly  formed  into  order  and 
marched  into  a  rocky  field,  north  from  the  mill  some 
thirty  rods,  where  wo  halted.  The  mill  stood  near 
the  bank  of  the  river,  with  the  road  passing  between 
it  and  the  three  stone  outbuildings.  In  passing  into 
the  licld,  a  wooden  barn  lay  in  our  route,  from  which 
some  of  our  men  removed  a  portion  of  the  siding  to 
give  us  a  better  opportunity  for  retreating,  in  case 
such  a  measure  should  become  necessary.  Our 
skillful  commander  addressed  us  in  a  few  words,  ex- 
horting us  to  be  valiant  in  all  our  conduct,  an  '  to  be 
sure  to  make  all  our  shots  tell  with  effect.  For  our 
greater  preservation  against  such  fearful  odds,  he  or- 
dered us  to  secure  ourselves  in  as  concealed  posi- 
tions as  possible,  under  the  two  stone  walls  that  ran 
northward  from  the  mill,  and  behind  rocks,  stumps, 
or  whatever  should  eippear  to  give  us  shelter.  I  am 
sure  there  were  none  of  us  that  had  cowardly  feel- 
ings then;  and  had  there  been,  the  fearless  courage 
that  spoke  in  every  lineament  of  the  countenance  of 
that  exiled  Pole,  who  had  bravely  sustained  the  cause 
of  his  own  dear  country,  till  the  overwhelming  force 
of  despotic  tyrrany  crushed  her  hopes  of  freedom,  and 
compelled  her  patriotic  sons  to  chose  self-banishment 
rather  than  gibbet  and  rack,  from  Poland's  oppress- 
ors— would  have  banished  it  from  the  bosom. 

During  this  time,  a  large  concourse  of  spectators 
had  congregated  on  the  American  side  at  every  eli- 
gible point  of  view,  to  witness  the  result.  We  could 
j'ee  them  waving  their  scarfs  and  little  flags,   and 


24 


TBANSTIONS   AT 


% 


hear  occasionally  a  shout  to  cheer  us  forward.  We 
secured  ourselves  according  to  the  directions  of  our 
leader  and  waited  with  a  nervous  anxiety  for  the  ap- 
proach of  our  foe,  which,  when  at  the  distance  of 
one  hundred  and  thirty  yards,  opened  a  heavy  and  un- 
iterrupted  fire,  continuing  to  advance  till  within  fif- 
teen rods,  when  we  returned  their  fire  with  such 
warmth  and  execution  as  compelled  them  to  come  to 
a  halt.  Our  discharge  did  much  havoc  among  their 
front  ranks,  but  which  were  kept  full  from  those  be- 
hind. TJieir  shots  did  terrible  execution  upon  the 
poor  defenceless  stumps  and  stones,  from  which  frag- 
ments were  being  incessantly  chipped.  Finding  our 
work  too  hot  for  their  comfort,  they  retreated  back- 
ward nearly  twenty  rods,  continuing  yet  their  fire. 
There  they  halted  sufficiently  long  to  pluck  up  cour- 
age and  endeavor  to  charge  upon  us  with  fixed  bay- 
onets. But  so  many  of  their  brave  fellows  were 
compelled  by  the  force  of  "rebel"  bullets  to  kiss  the 
earth,  that  the  remainder  concluding  it  too  dangerous 
work — came  to  'another  halt — still  sending  their  in- 
offensive bullets  in  search  of  patriot  blood,  which  rid- 
dled the  air  or  spent  their  force  upon  the  inanimate 
objects  about  us.  It  was,  indeed,  on  their  side,  the 
making  of  a  great  deal  of  smoke  without  a  corres- 
ponding execution i  All  this  while,  the  Experiment, 
Cobourg,  and  another  steamer  whose  name  I  have 
forgotten,  kept  up  an  unceasing  canonading  from  the 
river  in  our  rear.  But  their  shells  and  bails  were 
even  more  harmless  than  the  bullets  of  the  musketry. 


-i 


THE   WINDMILL. 


^ 


We 

of  our 
;he  ap- 
nee  of 
ndun- 
tiin  fif- 
1  such 
)me  to 

their 
ise  be- 
)n  the 
1  frag- 
igour 
back- 
p  fire. 
>  cour- 
i  bay- 
I  were 
ss  the 
parous 
eir  in- 
:h  rid- 
limate 
e,  the 
orres- 
;ment, 
.  have 
»m  the 

were 
ketry. 


My  position  in  the  field  was  behind  the  stone  wall, 
the  farthest  from  the  mill,  and  a  part  of  the  time  with- 
in ten  rods  of  the  enemy.  But  one  of  my  comrades, 
a  young  man  from  Salina,  was  near  me,  who,  about 
this  period  of  the  engagement,  in  rising  to  discharge 
his  gun,  receiver  a  bullet  in  his  forehead,  when  he 
fell  upon  his  face— dead.  I  had  continued  charging 
and  firing  with  very  little  cessation  from  the  first, 
and  not  having  the  wiper  of  my  gun,  it  had  become 
so  foul  as  to  be  charged  with  great  difficulty.  At 
length  a  bullet  stopped  midway  in  the  barrel,  and  all 
my  efforts  could  not  force  it  down.  Having  broken 
my  own  rod  in  the  effort,  I  seized  that  of  my  com- 
rade, and  finally  succeeded  in  getting  my  gun  loaded. 
I  must  have  been  employed  at  this  business  nearly 
twenty  minutes,  and  when  I  rose  to  fire,  the  reader 
may  judge  of  my  astonishment  when  I  saw  my  com- 
rades retreating  toward  the  mill  and  myself  left  en- 
tirely alone,  with  large  numbers  of  the  enemy  upon 
the  other  side  of  the  wall,  much  nearer  to  the  mill 
than  myself.  I  saw  at  once  my  hope  for  safety  was 
very  faint  indeed;  yet  my  presence  of  mind  did  not 
entirely  desert  me,  and  I  felt  a  fixed  determination 
that  my  life,  if  sacrificed,  should  be  at  as  dear  a  cast 
to  the  British  as  could  be.  Whilst  preparing  myself 
to  take  a  deliberate  shot,  I  had  a  fair  opportunity  of 
glancing  at  that  part  of  the  field  which  the  enemy  had 
occupied,  but  now  had  left  vacant  by  their  advance 
toward  the  mill.  There  I  saw  some  twenty  acres 
almost  hterally  covered  with  the  fallen,  and  though  I 


26 


TRANSACTIONS    AT 


i  i 


felt  but  little  sympathy  for  them,  the  groans  and  im- 
precations  of  the  wounded  and  dying  were  heart-rend- 
ing to  hear.  Had  I  been  disposed  to  exercise  char- 
itable feelings  in  their  behalf,  the  time  and  occasion 
sufficiently  excused  me.  So,  resting  my  rifle  on 
the  wall,  I  discharged  it  among  their  lengthened  col- 
umns, where,  I  am  quite  sure,  the  bullet  must  have 
produced  lively  sensations  upon  some  poor  fellow's 
feehngs. 

Throwing  aside  my  empty  barrel,  in  order  to  in- 
crease my  chances  of  escape,  I  fled,  crouching  along 
the  wall  securely  till  I  reached  the  barn.  Whilst 
passing  from  the  covert  of  the  wall,  I  was  discovered 
by  the  enemy,  who  discharged  several  of  their  guns 
with  no  other  eflfect  than  marring  the  lumber  of  the 
building.  From  the  barn  to  the  mill  was  a  distance 
of  fifteen  rods,  the  whole  of  which  I  had  to  pass  in  full 
view  of  the  royal  troops,  exposed  to  whatever  fire 
they  were  pleased  to  direct  at  me.  Their  bullets 
struck  in  several  directions  around  me,  but  none 
harmed  my  flesh,  though  one  passed  through  the  top 
of  my  cap  and  another  grazed  the  waistband  of  my 
pantaloons.  I  was  greeted  with  bursts  of  cordial 
feelings  by  my  comrades  who  had  preceded  me  into 
the  mill,  where  I  found  tomy  great  delight  that  near- 
ly all  our  party  were  safe.  My  feelings  may  be 
better  imagined  than  expressed,  for  I  looked  on 
my  escaps  as  miraculous,  and  something  that  but 
a  few  moments  before  I  had  no  hope  of  accom- 
plishing. ;;;  .;, r\    :.        ;     ;;   '   ;.  .  •   -, 


THE    WINDMILL. 


27 


nd  im- 
t-rend- 
e  char- 
jcasion 
ifle  on 
led  col- 
t  havo 
ellow's 

to  in- 
g  along 
Whilst 
iovered 
ir  guns 
of  the 
istance 
in  full 
er  fire 
bullets 
t  none 
the  top 
of  mv 
cordial 
me  into 
at  near- 
nay  be 
ked   on 
hat  but 
acconi- 


The  enemy  halted  at  a  distance,  still  keeping  up 
their  fire,  which  was  returned  from  the  mill  and  out- 
buildings with  some  execution.  Not  finding  it  a 
profitable  business,  they  discontinued  their  shots  and 
after  a  little  sent  out  a  flag  requesting  us  to  cease 
hostilities  for  an  hour,  that  they  might  look  after  their 
dead.  This  was  acceded  to  by  Von  Shoultz.  The 
battle  had  raged  three  hours  and  twenty  minutes; 
and  when  we  take  into  account  the  very  great  dis- 
parity of  numbers,  w'e  may  search  history  in  vain 
for  its  parallel.  At  least,  so  small  a  band  had 
never  withstood  such  a  large  force  of  British  troops, 
many  of  whom  were  veterans  in  the  service  of  their 
mistress,  Queen  Victoria.  The  exact  number  op- 
posed to  us  is  not  known.  The  eighty-third  regi- 
ment, numbering  one  thousand  veterans,  supported 
by  twelve  hundred  provincial  soldiers,  aided  by  an 
unknown  number  of  militia,  composed  the  force. 

Not  one  of  our  own  men,  save  the  leader  and  per- 
haps one  or  two  others,  had  before  been  in  combat. 
When  the  disparity  of  ou  numbers  and  the  equal  dis- 
parity of  execution  are  taken  into  account,  the  ac- 
tion becomes  a  deed  of  valor,  that,  had  our  cause  been 
successful,  would  have  rung  from  the  tongues  of  the 
people  with  greater  eclat,  than  have  the  since  famous 
battles  on  the  plains  of  Mexico. 

I  saw  the  Queen's  troops  bear  from  the  frM  nine 
wagon  loads  of  dead  and  wounded — numbering  not 
less  than  three  hundred.  Our  own  killed  and  wound- 
ed (lid  not  exceed  thirty.     Whilst  both  parties  were 


28 


TRANSACTIONS   AT 


securing  their  fallen  comrades,  Colonel  Dundas  and 
Von  Shoultz  held  a  parley,  in  which  the  former  ad- 
vised  the  latter  to  surrender,  which  advice  our  gallant 
leader  thought  proper  most  politely  to  decline — not 
relishing  the  royal  Colonel's  conditions.  Von  Shoults 
however  replied  he  would  surrender,  provided  him- 
self and  men  should  be  received  as  prisoners  of  war, 
otherwise  he  was  disposed  to  remain  in  his  position. 
This  was  refused  by  Dundas. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  here  to  refer  more  particu- 
larly to  the  circumstances  that  placed  Von  Shoultz 
in  command.  Before  leaving  the  American  shore, 
it  had  been  understood  the  chief  command  was  to 
devolve  on  General  Burge.  assisted  by  General  Estes 
and  several  others  whose  names  I  will  not  mention, 
but  who  never  showed  their  heads  in  harm's  way. 
They  were,  no  doubt,  of  those  who  "  knew  the  pat- 
riots would  fail."  The  previous  night  Estes  came 
over  to  the  mill,  but  his  faint  heart  quickly  sent  him 
back  again.  If  there  was  any  other  cause  than  sheer 
cowardice  that  impelled  him  to  desert  us  in  our  ex- 
tremity it  must  have  been  that  knowledge  which  so 
many  sagacious  minds  possessed,  who  had  sworn  to 
stand  by  the  banner  of  Canadian  freedom!  When 
we  saw  there  was  no  longer  hcpe  of  dependence  on 
those  who  had  assumed  military  titles,  and  had  been 
loudest  in  their  protestations  and  strongest  in  their 
oaths:  with  acclamation  we  elevated  Van  Shoultz  to 
the  command.  This  was  at  the  council  previously 
mentioned.     I  have  often  regarded  it  as  a  fortunate 


son 
erall 
notii 
in  si 

»ng| 
port 


THE    WINDMILL. 


20 


iis  and 
r  ad- 
rallant 
I — not 
hoults 
i  him- 
ofwar, 
)sition. 

)articu- 
Shoultz 
.  shore, 
was  to 
3il  Estea 
lention, 
's  way. 
the  pat- 
)3  came 
ent  him 
m  sheer 
our  ex- 
vhich  so 
worn  to 
When 
ience  on 
ad  heen 
in  their 
houltz  to 
eviously 
!brtunat« 


circumstance;  for  unquestionably  had  it  not  been  for 
his  skill,  courage  and  forethought,  our  patriot  band 
would  have  been  crushed  by  the  overwhelming  force 
opposed,  and  probably  not  a  soul  escaped — as  any 
other  mode  of  wariare  adopted  would  have  resulted 
in  complete  discomfiture. 

His  conduct  throughout  the  whole  engagement  was 
tiiat  of  fearless  daring.  Making  no  attempt  to  con- 
ceal his  person,  he  traversed  the  field  among  his  men, 
imparting  to  them  the  zeal  and  courage  that  fired  his 
own  bosom.  His  general  order  was  to  be  saving  ot 
the  amunition,  and  fire  only  when  we  were  quite 
sure  of  making  the  bullet  take  effect.  That  the  shots 
of  his  men  might  be  more  effectual,  he  frequently  lu- 
spected  their  firing  himself.  In  this  manner  he 
would  approach  one,  peep  behind  his  shoulder  and 
watch  the  ball,  when,  if  it  sped  to  its  mark,  with  a 
smile  and  a  friendly  pat  on  the  shoulder,  he  would 
exclaim — "That's  the  sort,  my  good  fellow,'*  and 
then  hurry  away  to  another  to  repeat  a  similar  pro- 
cess; but  if  not  quite  so  successful,  he  would  admin- 
ister a  good  natured  caution.  Thus  he  instilled  cour- 
age among  his  men  and  made  them  reckless  alike 
of  danger  and  death.  Whilst  thus  exposing  his  per- 
son among  his  men,  he  received  the  marks  of  sev- 
eral bullets  in  his  clothing,  of  which  he  took  no  more 
notice  than  if  they  had  been  so  many  rents  received 
in  scahng  fences.  In  person,  he  was  of  command- 
ing appearance — was  six  feet  in  height — well  pro- 
portioned— of  good  features,  and  a  dark  piercing  eye. 


TRANSACTIONS    AT 


(: 


Another  morning  dawned  on  our  ranks,  that  were 
wearied  with  the  constant  fatigue  and  watching  to 
which  we  had  been  subjected  since  our  landing. 
Added  to  tliis,  the  anxiety  of  our  minds  occasioned 
by  the  desertion  of  our  friends,  on  whom  we  had  so 
strongly  counted  for  assistance,  with  the  care  of  our 
wounded — without  any  possible  hope  of  succor  or 
relief— -and  our  situation  was  not  so  pleasing  as  it 
might  have  been.       V         ■    ■■■-       -■         ;  - 

Our  physician,  forgetting  his  medicines  and  instru- 
ments had  left  them  at  Ogdensburg,  and  we  ^vere 
without  any  means  to  soothe  the  pains  or  alleviate 
the  sufferings  of  our  wounded.  About  eight  o'clock 
the  enemy  were  seen  advancing  again  with  the  hea- 
viest artillery  that  could  be  procured  in  Kingston,  if 
not  in  the  whole  province.  I  have  been  told  they 
were  seventy-fours,  and  I  have  not  much  doubt  of 
it,  seeing  what  havoc  they  made.  The  company 
formed  in  a  field  about  one-third  of  a  mile  to  the 
north-west  of  the  mill,  and  commenced  an  uninter- 
rupted fire  on  our  unoffending  structure.  After  a 
hard  hour's  canonading,  the  gallant  heroes(!)  suc- 
ceeded in  shooting  away  the  wings  of  the  mill  and  de- 
mohshing  the  roof  of  the  building.  One  ball  entered 
our  room  quite  obliquely  through  the  window  and 
made  several  revolutions  around  the  circular  walls 
before  its  force  was  spent,  which  enabled  us  to  gath- 
er in  the  centre  and  thus  escape  the  danger.  Be- 
tween the  hours  of  eleven  and  twelve  they  received 
a  reinforcement  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant 


THE    WINDMILL. 


81 


at  were 
ling  to 
mding. 
isioned 
had  so 
of  our 
ccor  or 
g  as  it 

I  instru- 
e  were 
illeviate 
o'clock 
the  hea- 
^ston,  if 
Id  they 
ioubt  of 
)mpany 
3  to  the 
aninter- 
After  a 
[!)  sue- 
and  de- 
entered 
ow  and 
ir  walls 
to  gath- 
r.  Be- 
eceived 
utenant 


Johnson,  who  was  an  ambitious  personage  desirous 
of  doing  something  wortliy  of  promotion.  What 
then  should  seem  more  appropriate  for  his  spirit  than 
the  idea  of  storming  our  position  and  cutting  the 
throats  of  every  "rascally  rebel"  of  us.     ...       >,  .  ^  . 

Surmising  their  purposes  from  their  movements, 
we  put  ourselves  in  readiness  for  their  reception  as 
they  came  down  the  road  in  one  solid  column.  Yon 
Shoultz  ordered  one  of  the  guns  loaded  witli  musket 
balls,  spikes,  and  such  bits  of  iron  as  could  be  ob- 
tained about  the  mill,  and  then  protruded  from  the 
front  door.  This  was  quickly  done,  and  a  man  with 
a  lighted  match  stood  ready  to  send  the  charge  among 
their  ranks  when  the  word  should  be  given »  Two 
of  our  sharpest  shooters  were  stationed,  with  rifles 
in  hand,  to  mark  the  Lieutenant.  Oar  men  could 
scarcely  be  restrained  from  giving  them  the  greeting, 
but  they  obeyed  the  wish  of  their  commander,  who 
ropHed  to  their  entreaties — "Ah  boys,  we'll  stop  them 
soon  enough."  They  approached  within  ten  rods, 
when  the  word  fire  !  was  given,  and  thirty-seven 
dead  corpses  and  bleeding  mangled  forms  told  the  ef- 
fect of  that  one  shot.  The  column  were  panic-struck 
and  took  to  their  heels,  retiring  with  greater  speed 
than  they  had  advanced,  and  with  a  far  less  soldier- 
like appearance.  The  boasting  Lieutenant  was 
picked  u})  by  our  men,  pierced  in  each  breast  with 
bullets  that  told  too  truthfully  the  unerring  aim  of  the 
two  sharp  shooters.  <  • 

Now  w.';s  given  to  us  a  fine  opportunity  for  plun- 


32 


TRANSACTIONS   AT 


dering,  had  that  been  the  object  of  our  mission.  The 
strict  commands  we  had  received  before  leaving 
American  soil  were  repeated  by  our  leader,  and  not 
a  thing  was  appropriated  to  our  use,  though  in  our 
situation  we  should  have  done  no  wrong  in  helping 
ourselves  to  what  the  enemy  had  left  behind  them. 
We  were  anxious  to  oltrin  necessaries  for  our  wound- 
ed, whose  agonies  were  increased  for  want  of  that 
attention  which,  without  the  means,  was  impossible 
to  bestow. 

Von  Shoultz  made  the  inquiry,  whether  there  were 
any  four  willing  to  brave  the  danger  and  attempt  the 
procurement  of  our  medicines  and  surgical  instru- 
ments left  on  the  other  shore.  Daniel  George, 
Charles  Smith,  Aaron  Dresser  and  myself,  stepped 
forward  as  volunteers.  We  knew  we  were  to  run 
Ae  risk  of  almost  certain  capture,  and  perhaps  death, 
in  the  undertaking,  yet  we  felt  cheerfully  to  attempt 
the  thing,  which  if  successful  would  so  greatly  alle- 
viate the  sufferings  of  our  wounded  companions. 

The  only  means  we  could  secure  for  crossing, 
was  an  old  dilapidated  yawl  that  lay,  half  filled  with 
sand  and  water,  on  the  beach,  one  hundred  rods  be- 
low the  mill.  Forty  rods  below  this,  were  stationed 
several  regulars  to  prevent  any  of  our  men  from  at- 
tempting to  cross  the  river.  We  crept  along  unseen 
to  the  yawl,  but  in  the  attempt  to  free  it  we  were 
discovered  by  the  regulars,  who  started  at  full  speed 
to  secure  us.  With  a  strong  and  hasty  effort  we  up- 
set it  and  pushed  into  the  stream.     There  were  no 


er. 


•THE    WINDMILL. 


33 


The 
saving 
nd  not 

n  our 
elping 

them, 
v^ound- 
Df  that 
ossible 

e  were 
npt  the 
instru- 
reorge, 
tepped 
to  run 
}  death, 
ittempt 
[y  alie- 
ns. 

ossing, 
;d  with 
ods  be- 
itioned 
:om  at- 
unseen 
e  were 
I  speed 
we  up- 
ere  no 


oars,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  we  could  manage  it 
with  the  pieces  of  board  we  had  brought  with  us. 
Putting  off  our  coats,  we  applied  ourselves  vigorously 
to  the  task  and  were  not  long  in  getting  beyond  whe 
reach  of  their  muskets.  The  steamer  Cobourg,  per- 
ceiving us,  hastily  left  the  wharf  at  Prescott  to  inter- 
cept our  crossing.  She  fired  two  balls  that  passed 
high  over  us;  then  two  charges  of  grape,  one  of 
which  fell  short  and  the  other  went  beyond.  By 
this  time  she  was  sufficiently  near  to  enable  her  men 
to  discharge  their  muskets,  four  bullets  from  which 
passed  through  our  yawl. 

She  was  now  so  close  upon  us,  and  we  were  in  such 
a  sinking  condition,  that  it  was  folly  to  hold  out  long- 
er. So,  uncovering  our  heads  as  a  token  of  submis- 
sion, they  ceased  their  firing.  The  steamer  bore 
directly  upon  us,  and  had  we  not  successfully  fended 
off,  would  have  run  us  under.  Whilst  we  '^'^ere  thus 
engaged,  one  of  the  valorous  militia  discharged  his 
piece  into  our  midst,  the  ball  passing  between  my 
own  arm  and  that  of  Charles  Smith,  as  we  stood 
shoulder  to  shoulder.  A  rope  was  then  thrown  from 
the  deck  and  our  little  party  drawn  on  board,  one  by 
one,  myself  being  last.  And  this,  too,  in  American 
waters  !  But  what  mattered  that  ?  Our  government 
could  permit  downright  murder  to  go  unavenged  ! 
Of  course  this  minor  offence  was  not  worth  noticing. 

So  soon  as  I  reached  the  deck,  I  received  a  blow 
from  an  unknown  hand  that  laid  me  senseless  for 
several  minutes.     I  aflerward  learned  it  came  from 
3 


34 


TRANSACTIONS    AT 


a  son  of  the  ebony  race — upon  whom  I  should  then 
have  been  pleased  to  have  had  an  opportunity  of  re- 
ciprocating the  favor.  One  would  have  thought  by 
the  great  demonstrations  of  joy  and  the  extravagant 
exclamations  to  which  our  captors  gave  utterance, 
that  some  terrible  robber  band  had  been  secured. 
We  were  greeted  on  all  sides  by  such  kind  assuran- 
ces as,  we  "were  to  be  fixed,"  or,  to  "be  hung  to 
the  yard  arm,"  or,  promenaded  on  deck  as  "targets 
for  her  most  gracious  majesty's  loyal  militia."  We 
were  stripped  of  every  thing  of  value  about  our  per- 
sons, save  our  clothes,  and  these  would  have  been 
appropriated  by  the  aforesaid  loyal  militia,  had  they 
been  permitted  to  work  their  desires.  When  I  re- 
covered my  consciousness,  1  was  lying  on  the  main 
deck  handcufled  with  my  companions,  and  surround- 
ed by  some  fifty  soldiers,  who  seemed  vieing  with 
each  other  in  heaping  upon  us  their  vile  opprobrium. 

By  command  of  the  Captain  we  were  taken 
to  the  quarter  deck,  where  we  expected  to  be  shot. 
Here  his  dignity  presently  followed,  addressing  to 
us  many  questions  concerning  ourselves,  our  com- 
rades at  the  mill — their  designs — the  efiect  of  the  as- 
sault on  us,  etc. — to  all  of  which  receiving  no  satis- 
factory answer,  he  left  us,  evidently  in  a  great  rage. 

We  were  not  permitted  to  have  our  coats,  which 
were  left  in  the  yawl..  The  weather  was  cold,  and 
lying  unprotected  on  the  quarter  deck,  while  our  gar- 
ments (which  had  got  wet  through  in  our  hurry  in 
kiunching  the  yawl)  were  frozen  stiflf  upon  our  per- 


TlIE    WINDMILL. 


lid  then 
Y  of  re- 
ight  by 
avagant 
terancc\ 
ecured. 
issuran-- 
iLing  to 
"targets 
."    Wo 
mv  per- 
ve  been, 
lad  they 
en  I  re- 
he  main 
irround- 
n^  with 
obrium.. 
3   taken 
be  shot. 
3sing  to 
ur  com- 
f  the  as- 
10  satis- 
at  rage. 
i,  which 
old,  and 
our  gar- 
urry  in 
jur  per- 


4 


sons.  Those  at  the  mill  had  witnessed  the  situation 
into  which  we  had  fallen,  and  had  opened  ((uite  a 
brisk  fire  upon  the  Cobourg.  In  this  position,  ex- 
posed to  the  chance  shots  of  our  friends,  were  we 
compelled  to  lay  for  three  bitter  hours,  whilst  the 
steamor  continued  plying  up  and  down  the  river, 
firing  now  and  then  at  the  mill.  The  darkness  com- 
ing on,  our  oaptors  returned  to  Prescott,  where  we 
were  joined  by  eight  others  of  our  comrades,  who 
had  likewise  that  day  been  captured,  and  sliortly  af- 
ter conveyed  in  the  same  steamer  to  Kingston. 
We  arrived  there  the  following  morning  at  seven 
o'clock,  when  our  handcuffs  were  taken  oif,  that  they 
might  be  carried  bnrk  for  the  benefit  of  others  who 
might  fall  under  their  merciful  protection!  ■•..  ■ 
Our  arms  were  next  tied  behind  us  with  ropes, 
and  in  such  a  cruel  manner  as  cilmost  to  dislocate 
our  shoulders — causing  such  intense  ])ain  and  agony 
as  to  seem  past  endurance.  W^e  begged — we  plead- 
ed— we  implored,  that  the  thongs  should  be  loosened, 
only  a  little,  that  our  sufferjiigs  might  be  abated. 
But  all  our  prayers  fell  unheeded  on  their  cold,  stony 
hearts.  We  woix5  thrust  into  an  open  boat,  guarded 
by  a  strong  detachment,  and  taken  across  the  bay  to 
Fort  Henry,  a  distance  of  a  half  or  three-fourtns  of 
a  mile.  Here  we  were  forced  into  a  strong  rom. 
and  a  still  stronger  guard  placed  over  us.  Our  arms 
were  then  unloosed,  wiien  we  experienced  untold  re- 
lief,.  Although  we  had  been  thus  cruelly  bound  but 
for  a  short  time,  yet  our  arms  were  so  lame  as  to 


/, 


1 


§t  TRANSACTIONS    AT 

give  US  much  difficulty  in  their  exercise,  and  there 
was  a  soreness  in  them  and  across  the  breast  that 
continued  to  pain  us  for  many  days. 

On  the  second  day  of  our  imprisonment,  we  were 
joined  by  the  remainder  of  our  force,  who  were  now 
fellow-captives  with  us.  From  them  I  learned  the 
result  of  the  proceedings  at  the  windmill.  The  strong 
reinforcements  which  the  enemy  had  received,  and 
by  which  the  mill  was  so  completely  invested  that  all 
hope  of  succor  or  retreat  was  entirely  cut  off,  in- 
duced our  men  on  the  third  day  to  send  out  a  flag  of 
truce,  the  bearers  of  which  were  immediately  fired 
upon.  A  white  flag  was  then  displayed  from  the 
summit  of  the  building,  of  which  no  notice  was  taken. 
Towards  sunset  Colonel  Dundas  sent  out  a  flag,  de- 
manding our  men  to  surrender  at  his  discretion.  In 
view  of  the  circumstances  in  which  the  faithful  band 
were  placed,  and  the  now  utter  hopelessness  of  their 
success,  it  was  deemed  most  prudent  to  accept  the 
summons,  whereby  they  hoped  to  win  some  little 
degree  of  the  enemy's  clemency.  ^.  w  •    .^ 

Thus  ended  this  brief,  unequal  struggle,  which  had 
resulted  in  a  loss  of  near  six  hundred  killed  and 
wounded  on  the  part  of  the  British,  while  on  that  of 
the  patriot  side,  if  I  remember  right,  but  fourteen 
were  killed  and  twenty-seven  wounded.  Several  of 
these  were  killed  and  wounded  in  the  outhouses, 
which  were  more  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire  than 
the  mill.  The  family  that  occupied  one  of  them  re- 
mained through  the  whole  aflfray.     They  were  ad- 


vised b 

seek  si 

expose 

from  tl 

ready  t 

when  i 

remain 

eldest  I 

prepos 

a  wou] 

passed 

other, 

ing  th( 

brougl 

identif 

true  tc 

Shaki] 

nize  a 

never 

No 

thepr 

gan  t( 

like  t 

indee 

boots, 

any  I 

satiat 

were 

of  ne 

ly.  re 


THE    WIMDMILL, 


3T 


there 
t  that 

were 


i 


vised  by  Von  Shoultz  the  first  morning  to  leave  and 
seek  shelter  at  a  distance  where  they  would  not  be 
exposed,  and  where  they  would  suffer  less  suspicion 
from  the  minions  of  royalty.  But  before  they  were 
ready  to  leave,  the  soldiery  made  their  appearance, 
when  it  was  thought  imprudent.  They  accordingly 
remained,  doing  us  what  service  they  could.  The 
eldest  daughter,  who  was  a  young  lady  of  rather 
prepossessing  appearance,  received  during  the  firing 
a  wound  that  deprived  her  of  speech.  A  bullet 
passed  through  the  mouth,  from  one  cheek  to  the 
other,  knocking  out  several  of  the  teeth,  and  sever- 
ing the  tongue  near  the  roots.  She  was  afterward 
brought  with  her  mother  to  the  fort,  that  they  might 
identify  any  of  the  prisoners ;  but  they  were  too 
true  to  the  cause  to  be  made  tools  of  for  loyalty. 
Shaking  her  head,  she  steadfastly  refused  to  recog- 
nize any  one  of  us.  What  became  of  her  I  have 
never  been  able  to  learn. 

No  sooner  were  Von  Shoultz  and  his  men  under 
the  protection  of  her  majesty's  troops,  than  they  be- 
gan to  experience  their  tender  mercies,  which  were 
like  the  tender  mercies  of  the  wicked  of  old — cruel 
indeed.  Whatever  watches,  money,  knives,  hats, 
boots,  and  even  such  articles  of  clothing  as  were  of 
any  particular  value,  were  appropriated  by  those  in- 
satiate PREE-BOOT-ers,  the  militia;  so  that  our  men 
were  indeed  lefl  in  a  suffering  condition  for  the  want 
of  necessary  clothing.  Nor  was  this  all :  contume- 
ly, reproaches,  and  all  manner  of  speech  that  the  ap- 


a 


TRANSACTIONS   AT  THE  WINDMILL. 


parentl.y  enraged  soldiery  imagined  to  be  offensive, 
was  liberally  heaped  upon  the  impious  "rebels'^  who 
had  dared  so  stoutly  to  resist  the  invincible  powers 
of  her  majesty's  servants. !  Like  us,  they  were  hand- 
cuffed and  bound,  then  thrust  down  into  the  hold  of 
the  Cobourg,  brought  to  Fort  Henry  and  placed  in 

durance  Vlie.     ';'T!]i  ^y^rnHH   Ji-'.,'  Pt«  yjnj*  .:    ivxrurvfr 

^'iS'i^H^kui  ,/!3^j -Iff'- >>  |<;v./j^.  Iji..  •:'-•;  .  ,.n:;  .v.ii-. 
?dT»:ia   -/'Jiij  irj?»  .N   ,   -;,!!  ^ti  •<>;>/{ lofff-r--;    '■'  v 

'I'^iau  a-^fa<:.l''  ''i,^  rr;;.'n;;>  r,o7'  v.-->;-  •'/:frr,f       /' 


1     r,-.^ 


.^^on  .aoYvii}!   .yoiinr::   [yorf'di;//  •••''•,:. ■tfr,";      j.-<-,' ^^^ 


.0 
■Hi 


Jive, 
who 
vers 
and- 
d  of 
:l  in 


i  ■  /.,  F' 


l.^*! 


Jr.   Up? 


•Al^ 


■  1 

.  'T' 

V, 

-Ml 

>-. 

..ft. 

J 

i  ■ 

'L' 

itt 

:l 

"!o 

• 

i 

.'ri. 

,"t   ;•'• 


)       lij;. 


,/;'!'J 


•J  .'       '  M' 


'-^j  li 


■A 


:    r. 


^  [; 


CHAPTER    III. 


MATTERS     CONNECTED     WITH     OUR     IMPRISONMENT. 

The  number  of  us  who  were  now  incarcerated  in 
prison,  was  not  far  from  two  hundred  and  fifty,  oc- 
cupying, 1  think,  five  different  rooms,  whose  size 
was  twenty  by  thirty  feet,  or  thereabouts.  Our  fur- 
niture consisted  for  the  first  four  days,  of  iron  bed- 
steads ranged  around  the  rooms,  which  served  us 
for  seats,  tables,  &c.  We  were  supphed  with  wood 
sufficient  to  keep  ourselves  tolerably  comfortable. 
Two  bibles  were  permitted  in  each  room,  but  no 
other  books  or  newspapers.  For  this  length  of  time 
we  had  no  bedding,  and  the  repose  we  secured  on 
the  rough  edges  of  those  iron-bound  bedsteads,  was 
anything  but  sweet  or  refreshing.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  three  days,  the  bedsteads  were  removed,  and 
a  straw  tick,  a  coarse  rug  and  a  coarser  blanket,  were 
furnished  for  every  two  men.  These  spread  out  up- 
on the  floor  at  night  sufficed  us  for  couches,  and 
rolled  up  in  bundles  by  day,  for  seats.      ''  '•-'''' 

Our  food  consisted  of  boiled  bullock's  head,  served 
to  us  in  one  large  tub,  with  a  small  quantity  of  very 
diluted  pea  soup,  and  a  meagre  supply  of  hard,  black, 


'  <  I 


40 


IMPRISONMENT 


gritty  and  gluey  biead,  manufactured  from  the  sweep- 
ings of  mills  and  the  very  coarsest  of  flour.  Our 
food  tub  when  brought  to  us  was  placed  in  the  centre 
of  the  room,  around  which  we  gathered,  and  with 
the  one  knife  and  fork  allowed  the  whole  company, 
divided  the  amount  as  equitably  as  the  circumstances 
would  permit.  To  each  was  given  a  small  tin  plate; 
with  this  in  one  hand  we  ate,  squatting  on  the  floor 
or  standing  as  we  best  could,  using  our  fingers  as  the 
only  means  of  conveying  the  food  to  the  mouth. — 
Thus  were  we  compelled  to  eat  what  in  other  cir- 
cumstances our  stomachs  would  have  loathed  with 
disgust.  But  the  insatiate  gnawings  of  hunger  will 
force  men  to  eat  strange  food,  stranger  indeed  than 
was  ours.  In  one  corner  of  the  room  was  kept  stand- 
ing a  tub  for  the  reception  of  filth,  which  at  nightfall 
was  usually  emptied.  The  warmth  of  the  room  and 
its  occupation  by  a  large  number  of  human  beings, 
with  the  very  shghtest  means  of  ventillation,  render- 
ed its  atmosphere  exceedingly  disgusting  and  un- 
wholesome; and  add  to  this  the  tormenting  annoy- 
ance of  incredible  numbers  of  vermin,  and  our  situ- 
ation, it  may  well  be  imagined,  was  debasing,  and 
our  treatment  unchristian. 

Tli^  guard  placed  over  us  the  first  two  weeks  wa$ 
composed  entirely  of  the  militia,  who  took  their  ac- 
customed pains  to  annoy  us  with  their  singular  affa- 
bility; and  during  the  time,  the  government  was  so 
fearful  of  our  escape  that  its  officers  themselves  kept 
a  strict  surveillance,  visiting  our  rooms  as  often  m 


IN    FORT   HENRT. 


41 


\ 


two  and  three  times  in  a  night.  About  this  time,  we 
began  to  concoct  some  method  for  escaping.  The 
mihtia  were  exchanged  for  a  guard  of  regulars,  who 
treated  us  more  humanoJy.  This  we  hailed  as  an 
opportune  moment.  Von  Shoultz,  Woodruff,  Buck- 
ley and  some  others  consulted  together;  deciding  to 
tamper  with  the  guard.  Von  Shoultz,  who  had  him- 
self been  cruelly  deceived  by  those  who  were  pro- 
fuse in  promises,  seemed  to  care  nothing  for  his  own 
fate,  but  anxious  only  for  the  safety  of  those  under 
his  command,  which  if  he  could  but  secure,  his  own 
life  and  fortune  were  a  willing  sacrifice.  A  large 
sum  of  money  was  subscribed  by  him  and  several 
others,  by  which  they  hoped  to  induce  some  of  the 
guard  to  so  favor  their  escape  as  not  to  appear  dis- 
loyal to  their  own  government.  - 

There  was  a  sergeant  of  the  company  that  mani- 
fested a  strong  sympathy  for  our  misfortunes.  To 
him  it  was  thought  best  to  break  the  subject.  Ac- 
cordingly, at  a  favorable  moment.  Von  Shoultz  cau- 
tiously sounded  him  and  found  him  to  be  all  we 
wished.  Regarding  the  matter  favorably,  he  readily 
agreed  to  lend  us  assistance,  provided  he  could  get 
the  right  sort  of  men  on  sentry.  He  proved  a  faith- 
ful friend,  and  did  what  he  could  do  to  enable  us  to 
obtain  our  freedom.  Von  Shoultz  had  obtained  a 
string,  which  he  would  frequently  tie  to  his  foot,  leav- 
ing one  end  fastened  at  the  window.  Whenever  in 
the  night  the  sergeant  wished  to  communicate  with 
him,  he  would  give  the  signal  by  pulling  on  the  cord. 


I 


42 


IMPRISONMENT 


r 


when  Von  Sl^ultz  would  approach  the  window, 
where  they  fre^^uently  conversed  in  low  whispers, 
arranging  and  projecting  the  plan.  The  scheme 
was  well  managed — the  right  men  were  on  guard — 
the  sentrys  were  all  such  as  could  be  depended  upon 
— the  other  arrangements  were  perfected,  and  noth- 
ing now  seemed  to  bar  us  from  liberty\s  shore  but 
the  unfrozen  river.  Our  hopes  were  consequently 
excited  to  a  high  pitch,  and  we  were  most  impatient 
of  delay.  But,  as  if  to  mock  our  longings  and  make 
the  heart  sick  with  the  precious  boon  deferred,  the 
weather  continued  warm  and  the  river  open. 

It  was  at  this  juncture,  that  the  order  to  our  leader 
to  prepare  for  trial  fell  like  a  thunderbolt  in  our  midst. 
We  had  counted  the  lapse  of  weary  hours,  picturing 
in  our  imaginations  the  sweet  communion  we  hoped 
soon  to  realize  with  our  friends;  but  the  star  that 
was  beaming  so  brightly  on  our  vision,  was  suaden- 
ly  paled  as  it  were  in  midnight  blackness,  and  we 
left  to  grope  in  despair.  Von  Shoultz  alone  retained 
his  wonted  composure.  We  conjectured  this  was 
but  the  prelude  of  others  who  should  follow  him  to 
the  court  room,  and  thence  we  knew  not  whither, 
though  in  all  probability  to  the  scaffold. 

Still  our  leader,  while  he  manifested  the  strongest 
interest  for  his  fellow  prisoners,  expressed  no  regrets 
for  his  own  fate.  His  indictment  accompanied  the 
order  tor  his  trial.  The  next  day  he  was  tried  beforo 
a  tribunal  which,  if  not  corrupt,  was  at  least  illegal* 
Eiglit  days  afterward  he  was  executed. 


M 


man 
life. 

Wo( 
whi< 


IN    FORT    HENRY. 


43 


When  the  high  sheriff  entered  the  room  with  his 
death  warrant,  Von  Shoultz  received  the  fatal  news 
with  a  pleasant  smile  on  his  countenance.  His  daunt- 
less spirit  quailed  not,  but  stout  in  the  honesty  oi*  his 
heart,  he  met  his  doom  unterrified.  He  only  request- 
ed pen,  paper,  and  time  to  write  a  will.  To  the  wid- 
ows and  orphans  produced  by  the  death  of  his  com- 
rades at  the  battle  of  Prescott,  he  bequeathed  ten 
thousand  dollars;  and  to  the  "j  uung  lady  with  whom 
he  was  to  have  been  united  in  wedlock  but  a  week 
before,  he  bequeathed  also  ten  thousand  dollars;  and 
then,  in  the  prij  ne  of  his  life,  went  forth  with  a  calm 
resignation  tt- meet  his  fate.   ■   •   .^  -  r.  m-;.    \  '■' 

Governor  Arthur  had  ordered  a  scafliDld  to  be  con- 
structed beside  the  prison,  expressly  for  his  execu- 
tion. To  t^is  he  ascended  with  a  firm  step,  and, 
addressing  a  short  and  eloquent  speech  to  those  as- 
sembled, he  requested  the  privilege  of  placing  the 
rope  about  his  own  neck,  which  was  granted,  and 
which  having  done,  he  placed  his  hands  in  his  panta- 
loons pocket  and  swung  off,  to  expire  \rithout  a 
struggle.  And  thus  closed  the  earthly  career  of  one, 
upon  whom  had  fortune  smiled  with  more  favor,  that 
might  have  blessed  his  fellows  with  the  greatness  of 
his  heart.  He  was  known  only  to  be  loved,  for  his 
many  social  quaUties,  and  for  the  quiet  virtues  of  his 
life. 

Soon  after  Von  Shoultz's  trial,  Colonel  Martin 
Woodruff  received  his  indictment  and  order  for  trial, 
which   was   conducted   like  that  of  the  former. — 


f-\ 


I  ! 


44 


IMPRISONMENT 


Through  the  awkwardness  of  the  hangman,  the  suf- 
ferings of  this  gallant  soldier  were  excruciating,  and 
his  execution  disgustingly  disgraceful  to  any  civil- 
ized community.  The  knot,  instead  of  drawing  tight- 
ly under  the  ear,  slipped  to  the  chin,  leaving  consid- 
erable space,  and  throwing  the  weight  of  the  body 
upon  the  jack  of  the  neck.  In  this  manner  he  re- 
mained writhing  in  torment,  till  the  spectators  cried 
out  for  shame,  when  two  hangmen  stepped  out  and 
strove  to  strangle  the  poor  sufferer !  Failing  in  this, 
one  ascended  to  the  cross-bar,  where,  grasping  the 
rope,  he  jerked  the  body  upward  and  downward,  as 
he  would  have  done  a  sheep-stealing  dog,  four  suc- 
cessive times,  before  the  neck  was  broken  and  the 
lamp  of  life  extinguished  in  its  mortal  clay ! ! 

Colonel  Abbey,  Charles  Buckley,  Sylvester  Lang- 
ton,  Daniel  George,  Leach,  Sweet,  and 

several  others  were  also  executed.  Daniel  George 
was  a  resident  of  the  same  town  with  myself,  and 
between  us  there  had  existed  for  a  long  time  a  strong 
intimacy.  He  was  a  young  man  of  industrious  hab- 
its and  worthy  connexions.  He  had  been  married 
nearly  three  years.  His  wife  was  a  fond,  loving 
creature,  who  doated  upon  her  husband  with  a  feel- 
ing almost  of  idolatry.  She  was  nevertheless  a  pat- 
riot of  the  warmest  blood,  and  cheerfully  spent  many 
an  hour  in  running  bullets,  and  in  assisting  the  cause 
in  whatever  manner  she  could.  One  sprightly  little 
boy,  that  seemed  a  cherub  in  the  eyes  of  its  glad  pa- 
rents, cemented  their  affection  in  an  indissoluble 


IN    PORT    HENRT. 


4fr 


( 


band.  The  duty  asigned  to  George — that  of  pay- 
master— did  not  require  his  presence  with  the  army, 
yet  he  refused  to  shrink  from  that  danger  which  might 
be  the  lot  of  his  friends.  His  parting  from  home 
was  tender.  He  remarked  to  his  wife,  that  his  duties 
might  detain  him  on  the  American  shore,  yet  he 
should  not  shirk  away  from  his  companions,  and 
therefore  the  probability  might  be  he  should  never 
return.  With  tears  in  her  eyes,  she  imprinted  s 
fervent  kiss  on  his  cheek,  and  bade  him  be  stout  of 
heart  wherever  duty  should  demand  his  presence- — 
That  parting  was  the  last.     '  .  ir 

The  death  warrants  were  sent  to  the  high  sheriff 
on  Wednesdays.  Information  of  the  number  was 
given  to  the  prisoners  in  the  evening,  but  no  names. 
Thursday  morning  the  sheriff,  McDonald,  would  ap- 
pear, when,  having  read  the  warrants  to  the  doomed, 
they  were  ordered  into  the  condemned  cells,  where 
they  usually  remained  four  days,  awaiting  execution. 
By  some  means,  George's  wife  had  heard  of  her  hus- 
band's condemnation,  when  she  came  immediately 
over,  hoping  to  have  an  interview  before  he  should 
be  ushered  into  the  presence  of  the  dread  future. 
He  was  then  in  the  condemned  cell.  She  impor- 
tuned the  sheriff  to  see  her  husband,  though  it  should 
be  but  for  a  few  brief  moments.  But  his  calloused 
heart  had  no  sympathetic  chord  that  vibrated  to  wo- 
man's sorrow,  and  he  spurned  her  entreaties.  She 
besought  him  that  she  might  even  look  upon  the  face 
of  him  she  held  most  dear,  though  she  should  not 


S'. 


46 


IMPRISONMENT 


;  I 


npeak  to  him — and  still  the  high  sherifF's  cold  heart 
remained  uimioved.      *  i   f    v  '' m  (•<— -  t'>.'->;  «•■ 

Wrung  to  the  very  soul  with  anguish,  she  left  the 
presence  of  him  who,  dressed  with  a  little  hrief  au- 
thority, could  look  well  pleased  on  the  wounded  spirit 
and  even  glory  to  make  its  sufferings  yet  more  ex- 
quisitely painful.  She  remained  in  the  city  till  his 
execution,  hoping  then  for  an  opportunity  to  hear  the 
loving  tones  of  his  own  voice.  But  even  this  was 
not  granted.  Overcome  with  the  intensity  of  her 
feelings,  she  fell  senseless  in  the  street,  in  which  sit- 
uation she  remained  till  after  the  execution.  She 
next  sought  to  obtain  his  body,  that  she  might  bury 
it  where  they  had  been  wont  to  live,  and  where  she 
could  strew  flowers  upon  his  grave,  and  water  them 
with  the  tears  of  her  affection.  But  this  last  wish 
was  even  more  unfeelingly  refused  than  the  others. 
The  stroke  was  too  much  for  her  overwrought  heart. 
She  went  forth  an  altered  being.  Reason  deserted 
her  throne,  and  for  years  afterward  the  wife  of  Dan- 
iel  George  was  a  maniac,  'uf/  .•i^>\i-..n^  ■-^<;.*-  -a      .)■  ^ 

The  time  having  come  for  my  own  trial,  with  three 
others,  I  was  taken  from  our  room  and  arraigned  be- 
fore a  court  martial  composed  of  militia  officers. 
Previously,  however,  we  were  conducted  into  separ- 
ate rooms  and  privately  questioned,  with  the  hope  no 
doubt  that  we  should  say  something  against  ourselves 
or  comrades.  They  tried  their  persuasive  arts  to 
induce  me  to  turn  Queen's  evidence;  promising  me 
my  life  as  a  certain  reward.     I  spurned  their  offers. 


^1 


tv 


)) 


IN    FORT    HENRY. 


47 


telling  them  I  chose  death  with  my  fellows  rather 
than  life  at  their  expense,  and  that  besides  I  did  not 
know  wherein  they  had  done  aught  worthy  of  pun- 
ishment. They  tried  several  others,  and  succeeded 
in  inducing  four  to  the  traitorous  task,  whose  names 
were  Graves,  Chipman,  and  two  French  boys.  The 
latter  did  us  no  harm,  for  they  could  not  identify  any 
of  us  Americans.        .•    •  r  ,  •  .    ;        . 

Our  indictment  being  read,  we  were  severally 
asked,  "Guilty  ?  or  Not  Guilty  ?"  "  Not  Guilty," 
was  our  response.  The  Queen's  witness  was  asked 
if  he  recognized  us;  to  which  he  replied,  "  I  da  not." 
No  other  questions  were  asked,  and  we  were  re- 
manded back  to  our  prison  room,  wondering  what 
the  sentence  of  the  court  would  be  on  such  over- 
whelming testimony !  In  a  similar  manner  were  all 
our  comrades  tried,  often  a  dozen  or  fifteen  at  a 
batch,  whilst  the  whole  time  occupied,  from  the  mo- 
ment they  left  the  room  till  their  return  to  it  again, 
would  not  exceed  generally  over  one  hour.  All 
that  seemed  necessary  was  to  bring  the  culprit  into 
the  presence  of  the  courtC?)  to  hear  his  indictment, 
and  to  give  him  the  opportunity  of  repeating,  "Guil- 
ty," or  "Not  Guilty,"  either  of  which  repetitions 
was  sufficient  to  warrant  a  condemnation.  The  tri- 
al of  the  officers,  however,  occupied  more  time — 
a  day  generally  bei^^g  devoted  to  each.  No  sen- 
tence had  yet  been  announced  to  us,  save  of  those 
already  executed.  Not  one  of  us,  therefore,  knew 
but  tlie  next  Wednesday  was  to  seal  his  fate  with  a 


48 


IMPRISONMENT 


If! 


death  warrant.  This  was  a  suspense  that  added 
very  much  to  our  mental  sufferings.  ' 

The  deputy  sheriff^,  whose  name  was  Richardson, 
appeared  to  be  a  pretty  clever  fellow,  and  I  believe 
would  have  been  glad  to  do  us  service,  had  it  been  in 
his  power.  With  him,  for  one  in  my  situation,  I 
had  become  somewhat  intimate.  Frequently  we 
conversed  through  the  window  for  an  hour  at  a  time. 
It  was  on  one  of  these  occasions,  on  a  Wednesday, 
that  I  asked  him  if  any  warrants  had  been  sent  down 
that  day.  He  replied  there  had  been,  seven.  I  next 
asked  him  if  he  knew  whether  my  name  was  among 
the  number.  He  answered  with  a  significant  look, 
^^ I  dare  not  tell.^^  My  inference  was,  that  the  next 
day  I  should  exchange  my  present  situation  for  a 
condemned  cell.  It  may  be  imagined  I  had  busy 
feelings  that  night — feelings  that  I  may  vainly  at- 
tempt to  portray.  No  sleep  came  to  my  weary  eye- 
lids. The  morning  dawned,  and  with  nervous  fear 
we  looked  for  the  approach  of  the  high  sheriff,  who 
usually  came  at  such  times  about  eight  o'clock.  We 
saw  him  as  he  approached  through  the  yard.  He 
entered  our  room  with  his  hand  on  his  sword,  attend- 
ed by  twenty-five  soldiers,  having  muskets  with  fixed 
bayonets.     This  was  his  usual  custom.  -   -  •- 

My  fears  seemed  realized.  "William  Gates!" 
sounded  in  my  ears,  and  falteringly  I  stood  up. 
"Stand  there,"  commanded  the  sheriflT,  pointing  to 
the  centre  of  the  room,  as  was  his  habit  when  about 
to  read  a  death  warrant.     Seven  other  names  were 


called, 
He  thei 
turning 
Gates,  1 
it  was  ' 
The  re 
me,  tho 
jmagim 
A  lit 
heard  r 
accouni 
we  wer 
were  pc 
at  any 
might  s 
timatio 
felt  stn 
an  egr( 
an  unc 
death  a 
the  eat 
com  pa 
rangec 
room 
what  1 
much 
marke 
court, 
tenant 
place- 


IN    FORT    HENRY. 


49 


called,  five  of  which  were  those  of  my  room  mates. 
fie  then  read  death  warrants  to  those  five,  when, 
turning  and  handing  me  a  paper,  he  said,  "Here, 
Gates,  is  a  letter  from  your  father;  go  and  sit  down.*' 
It  was  with  great  difficulty  I  regained  a  seat  again. 
The  revulsion  of  my  feelings  nearly  overpowered 
me,  though  what  a  relief  succeeded,  the  reader  may 
imagine. 

A  little  while  after  this,  the  high  sheriff  was  over- 
heard reading  to  the  soldiers  from  a  newspaper  an 
account  of  our  trials,  with  the  announcement  that 
we  were  all  (save  those  who  had  been  liberated,  which 
were  perhaps  nearly  a  hundred)  sentenced  to  be  hung 
at  any  time  or  place  which  the  lieutenant  governor 
might  see  fit.  This  was  the  first  knowledge  or  in- 
timation that  we  had  received  of  our  sentence.  We 
felt  stroDgly  impelled  to  rise  on  our  guard,  and  force 
an  egress  or  die  in  the  attempt.  We  talked  not  in 
an  undertone,  for  we  felt  reckless  where  certain 
death  appeared  inevitable.  Our  discontent  reaching 
the  ears  of  the  sheriff,  he  came  into  our  room  ac- 
companied by  a  strong  guard.  Generally  we  were 
ranged  in  a  double  rank  along  the  farther  side  of  the 
room  when  visited  by  officers.  He  then  read  to  us 
what  he  had  jus  been  reading  to  the  soldiers,  or  so 
much  of  it  as  related  to  our  sentence.  He  then  re- 
marked, that  although  this  was  the  sentence  of  the 
court,  he  could  assure  us  upon  the  word  of  the  lieu- 
tenant governor,  that  no  more  executions  would  take 
place — that  the  last  man  had  been  hung — for  he.  the 


i\ 


50 


IMPRISO.NMEXT 


go\crnor,  felt  assured  that  tlie  officers  or  ring-leaders 
were  now  disposed  of,  and  that  the  remainder  should 
hii  treated  with  clemency,  and  })rohahly  ere  long  be 
liberated.  Iliy  strong  assurances  in  a  measure  qui- 
eted us. 

Occasionally  we  were  pennittcd  to  write  to  our 
friends  in  the  States.  At  such  times,  a  pen,  ink, 
and  a  sheet  of  paper  wen  '.-vought  into  the  room, 
when  the  writer,  s([aattipgon  the  floor  and  using  one 
of  the  bibles  on  his  la})  for  a  table,  would  pen  such 
as  he  imagined  might  be  allowed  to  pass  the  super- 
vision of  tlie  high  sherift*,  who,  if  satisfied  with  tiic 
contents,  sealed  and  mailed  it  to  its  destination. 
W'c  had  written  to  our  friends  of  our  suflering  con- 
dition, asking  them  to  aid  us  if  they  could.  A  con- 
tribution of  nine  hundred  dollars  was  made  up  antl 
forwarded  to  us  by  messengers,  who,  not  being  per- 
mitted to  see  any  of  us,  left  it  with  the  high  sheriir, 
for  the  purpose  of  securing  us  food  of  better  quality 
and  in  greater  quantity.  By  law,  government  should 
have  furnished  us  with  enough  to  eat,  warm  and 
sullicient  clothmg,  and  suitable  and  necessary  con- 
veniences. Yet  for  all  these  things  we  suffered,  and 
for  some  of  tliem  exceedingly.  A  portion  of  the 
funds  was  expended  in  procuring  an  additional  num- 
ber of  tin  plates,  and  in  slightly  replenishing  our 
wardrobes.  For  the  real  purpose  it  was  intended, 
not  above  fifty  dollars  was  paid  out.  What  became 
of  the  most  of  it  I  am  unable  to  say,  but  undoubtedly 
tlie  high  sherilfknew  concerning  its  use.     We,  wlio 


IN    FORT    HENRY. 


ni 


hoiikl 
iig  be 
10  qui- 

,0  our 
,  ink, 
room, 
ngone 
n  such 
super- 
ith  tlic 
iKilion. 
ig  con- 
A  con- 
up  and 
iig  per- 
sherifF, 
quality 
t  should 
rm  and 
ry  con- 
red,  and 
[1  of  the 
al  nuni- 
ing  our 
itended, 
became 
(ubtedly 
V^e,  who 


i 


so  greatly  needed  it,  suspected  the  good  man's  pock- 
ets could  tcstilV  in  the  matter.  This  was  the  i)lu- 
lanthmpy  of  British  freemen,  or  of  those,  perhnps, 
tinselled  with  British  autliority !  We  were  "'I'^wed 
to  suller  ibr  those  absolute  necessaries  whir  \as 
their  duty  to  furnish  ;  and  when  the  compa,  ^a  of 
friends  was  moved  in  our  favor,  the  fruits  of  that 
compassion  was  pocketed  too,  and  we  permitted  to 
suffer  on,  apparently  affording  a  spectacle  of  delight 
for  our  oppressors. 

Now  and  then  our  friends  were  allowed  to  see  us. 
but  always  under  the  strictest  watch.  On  all  such 
occasions,  the  prisoner  was  hand-cuffed,  placed  un- 
der a  guard  of  six  to  a  dozen  men,  who  conducted 
him  to  p  I  oflicer's  room,  where  a  conversation  in  a 
loud  tone  was  permitted  for  ten  minutes.  Iftlie 
friends  of  more  than  one  prisoner  called  at  a  time, 
we  were  admitted,  when  permitted  to  see  them,  hand- 
cuffed in  pairs.  It  was  not  always  our  friends  could 
see  us — such  favors  depending  upon  the  particular 
mood  of  those  in  charge  of  us.  From  my  own  friends 
I  i;eceived  several  visits,  my  mother  particularly  call- 
ing several  times.  The  first  intimation  I  had  of  a 
visit  from  her,  was  the  announcement  of  my  name 
by  an  officer,  who  entered  our  room  bearing  a  pair 
of  hand-cuffs.  Answering  to  the  call,  I  was  informed 
that  my  mother  was  in  waiting,  desiring  to  see  me. 
"Do  you  wish  to  see  her?"  "Certainly;  by  all 
means."  I  was  accordingly  hand-cuffed  and  guard- 
ed by  six  soldiers  into  the  presence  of  my  parent. 


52 


IMPRISONMENT 


ymai 


Tliougii  sad  the  manner  of  our  meeting,  yet  in  a 
measure  it  was  joyful.  My  friends,  from  news  re- 
ceived, had  supposed  me  slain  in  the  battle,  and  had 
hecornt  somewhat  reconciled  to  their  loss.  But  when 
th-  y  heard  of  my  confinement  in  prison,  their  hearts 
bled  anew  ^or  the  prolonged  sufferings  I  was  endur- 
ing, witfi  no  prospect  of  tlieir  ending  but  in  death. 
When  the  ten  niinutes  had  expired,  I  was  torn  from 
her  company  and  remanded  again  to  my  quarters. 
During  the  interview,  my  mother  had  managed  to- 
shp,  unperceived  by  the  officers,  a  bank  bill  into  my 
hand.  Through  the  good  offices  of  one  of  the  guard, 
I  managed  to  secure  a  few  necessaries,  that  seemed 
great  luxuries  in  my  situation. 

In  this  way  did  we  occasionally  receive  help  from 
friends,  whereby  we  obtained  an  occasional  necessa- 
ry, by  hiring  some  one  of  the  guard  to  procure  it. 

At  the  last  visit  ^y  '>m  my  mother,  she  was  accom- 
panied by  my  father,  two  sisters  and  three  brothers. 
This  time  I  was  haiid-cuffed  to  one  Daniel  D.  Hues- 
tiss,  vv'hose  friends  had  also  called.  I  presented  such 
a  pitiable  appearance  that  my  friends  burst  into  tears 
Ji8  soon  as  I  ;:ntercd  the  room.  My  mother  was  the 
bearer  of  a  petition  in  my  behalf,  signed  by  many  of 
tiie  most  influential  men  of  Jefferson  County.  She 
was  then  on  her  w  ay  to  Toronto  to  lay  it  before  Goy- 
(;rnor  Arthur,  whither  she  was  accompanied  by  my 
oldest  !/rother.  She  could  get  no  hearing  of  the  Gov- 
ernor for  three  or  four  days.  When  at  last  she  did» 
lie  took  the  petition  from  her,  and  having  read  it,  re- 


IN    FORT    HENRY. 


53 


in  a 
IS  re- 
had 
rvhen 
earls 
idur- 
eath. 
from 
ters, 
ed  to 
o  my 
uard, 
emed 


innrked  it  was  a  well  framed  instrument,  very  re- 
spectful in  tone,  and  in  lact  about  the  best  one  he  had 
received.  But  he  gave  her  no  encouragement  for 
hope.  The  next  day  she  called  again  to  press  her 
suit,  when  he  ordered  her  to  depart,  for  he  could  not 
be  troubled  with  her  nonsense  !  This  Arthur  had 
held  the  governorship  of  Van  Diemon's  land  for 
eleven  years,  previous  to  being  sent  to  Canada;  and 
if  his  heart  had  ever  any  tender  chords,  so  Ions:  a 
residence  in  power  in  that  detestable  penal  colony, 
was  enough  to  harden  them  into  the  most  stony  in- 
ditference.  He  was  notorious  for  his  tyrrany,  and 
for  possessing  a  soul — if  in  sooth  such  a  spirit  may 
be  termed  a  soul — steeled  against  every  emotion  of 
sympathy.  Whilst  governor  of  that  island,  he  signed 
the  death  warrants  of  twelve  hundred  and  more  fel- 
low human  beings!  He  loved  it  as  he  did  his  meat 
and  drink,  for  he  was  never  known  to  pardon  a  man 
condemned  to  die,  unless  forced  to  do  it  by  a  power 
superior  to  his  own.  He  was  short  of  stature,  rather 
corpulent,  with  a  head  whitened  with  the  cares  and 
crimes  of  sixty  years,  and  a  face  and  nose  bearing 
the  purple  bloom  of  bacchanalian  revels. 

]\Iy  mother  and  other  friends  came  several  times 
afterward,  but  were  not  permitted  to  see  me.  It  was 
but  a  few  weeks  subsequent  to  my  mother's  visit  at 
Toronto,  that  Governor  Arthur  came]down  in  person 
to  Fort  Henry.  So  learful  was  he  of  his  worship- 
full  person,  that  he  approached  us  with  a  drawn  sword, 
supported  by  a  life  guard  with  drawn  swords,  who 


M^ 


IMPRISONMENT 


were  backed  bv  fiftv  soldiers  with  fixed  beyonctb.  » 
To  each  one  he  addressed  himself  personally.  Ap- 
proac!)in^  where  I  stood,  he  asked  my  name.  Be- 
ing informed — "Gates?"  said  he,  musingly;  "Ah, - 
your  mother  handed  me  a  petition  the  other  day  for 
your  liberation."  I  made  no  answer,  for  I  felt  in 
no  pleasant  mood.  He  then  questioned  me  if  I  took 
an  active  part  in  the  contest,  and  whether  I  fired  at 
they.iueen's  troops,  and  whether  J  killed  or  intended 
to  kill  any  of  them.  I  replied  to  the  efiect  that  I  did 
fire  Hi  them,  and  if  I  did  not  kill  any  of  them,  it  was 
not  boc-uise  I  had  no  intention.  Being  asked  my 
reason,  I  answered  that  we  only  returned  like  for 
like — that  her  majesty's  troops  did  what  they  could 
to  shoot  us.  "That  is  enough  for  you,"  said  he,  as 
he  turned  away  to  another.  In  a  similar  manner,  he 
questioned  us  all.  Bome  burst  into  tears  at  once; 
others  maintained  stoic  features  and  answered  him 
roughly ;  a  few  asked  his  clemency,  and  received 
the  consolatory  information,  that  it  was  too  late  now. 
Thus  he  i)assed  through  all  the  rooms.  After  tlv3 
governor  was  gone,  Richardson  expostulated  with 
me  for  my  presumptions  answers,  as  he  termed  them, 
assuring  me  I  was  "done  for"  now.  li..  ,.     :? 

-  TiiiH^  passed  onward.  To  many  it  brought  its 
blessings  and  its  joys,  as  was  its  wont.  But  to  us 
poor  captives,  its  moments  sped  wearily,  ladened 
with  sorrows  and  sufferings.  We  longed  for  the 
green  fields  and  the  dallying  winds,  where  we  might 
onjoy  that  exercise  which  was  so  needful  for  our 


IN    FORT    HENRY. 


55 


moral  and  physical  health.  Confined  so  closely  to 
our  rooms,  where  it  was  impossible  to  take  exercise, 
where  the  air  was  extremely  vitiated,  and  where  we 
had  no  means  of  exterminating  the  filthy  vermin 
that  swarmed  in  our  rooms,  covering  our  persons  and 
filling  our  bedding — we  were  dispirited,  emaciated, 
weak  in  body  and  sick  at  heart.  Sometime  in  June 
our  numbers  were  increased  by  the  arrival  of  nine- 
teen others,  brought  from  Toronto,  and  who  were 
taken  at  Maiden  in  the  previous  December.  The 
same  .causes  that  led  to  the  discomfiture  of  our  com- 
pany, crushed  their  effort  too.  They  had  fared  in 
their  captivity  even  worse  than  had  we.  For  a  while 
we  made  our  tedium  less  irksome  by  recounting  to 
each  other  the  story  of  our  several  wrongs,  which, 
to  be  sure,  were  nearly  alike  in  all  things,  saving  a 
variation  of  particulars.  Our  numbers  now  amount- 
ed to  eighty-three.  , 

Not  long  after  this,  free  pardons  for  myself  and 
twenty-four  others  were  made  out  and  sent  down  to 
the  sheriff,  McDonald,  who,  in  the  plenitude  of  his 
power,  kept  them  in  his  own  hands  for  two  weeks. 
During  this  time,  a  British  officer  for  some  unknown 
purpose  crossed  the  lines  to  French  Creek,  in  Jeffer- 
son county.  Our  American  friends  not  relishing 
his  presence,  treated  him  with  that  attention  which 
they  thought  most  befitting  such  gentlemen.  Not 
having  the  right  sort  of  perceptions  to  appreciate 
such  honors,  he  became  greatly  enraged  with  the  fa- 
vors bestowed.     Blaking  his  way  back  to  Kingston, 


<  :li 


.! 


56 


IMPRISONMENT 


:r  1 


he  gave  an  embittered  Lccount  of  the  affair  to  the 
high  sheriff,  who  forwarded  a  sti!l  more  exaggerated 
report  of  it  to  the  lieutenant  governor,  accompanying 
it  with  the  pardons  which  he  had  so  unjustly  with- 
held from  us.  The  old  sinner,  Sir  George  Arthur, 
was  so  incensed  that  he  committed  them  all  to  the 
flames,  thus  wreaking  his  v*.  igeance  upon  the  heads 
of  poor  defenceless  victims,  that  had  already  more 
than  expiated  any  sin,  real  or  conceived,  by  them 
committed  against  the  peace  of  her  majesty's  sub- 
jects. Had  he  dared,  he  would  have  hung  every  one 
of  us ;  but  had  enough  fear  of  the  home  government 
to  respect  its  orders  in  some  measure. 

The  heat  of  the  summer  months  but  added  more 
to  the  sum  of  our  misery.  Our  constitutions  became 
more  enfeebled.  The  seeds  of  disease  were  sown 
in  our  systems  to  bear  their  bitter  fruits  in  after  years. 
Thus  we  lay  in  that  damp  prison-house  till  Septem- 
ber, hoping  against  hope  for  a  relief  from  our  miseries. 

About  the  twentieth  of  this  month,  we  began  to 
have  intimations  of  a  removal,  whither  we  knew  not. 
Hope  kindled  up  again  in  the  bosoms  of  most  of  us. 
On  the  twenty-second  we  were  ordered  to  prepare 
for  a  start.  We  were  told  that  our  company  was 
to  be  taken  to  Quebec,  to  receive  f«*ee  pardons  from 
the  governor  general  in  person,  who  was  anxious  to 
see  us,  and  who  would  do  generously  by  us.  We 
could  not  credit  this — it  looked  so  unreasonable.  We 
felt  pretty  well  assured,  in  o 
.  other  disposition  was  to  be  ni 


own 


some 


.... 

H 


ner. 


Nl 


IN    FORT    HENRY. 


57 


< 


1 


was  to  be,  wa*  beyond  our  conjecture,  though  wc 
had  heard  it  intimated  from  some  quarter  that  we 
should  be  taken  to  England  for  a  new  trial.  But,  go 
where  we  should,  we  were  anxious  for  a  change. 
We  felt  completely  worn  down.  And  when  we  were 
put  in  motion,  hand-cuffed  in  pairs  and  preparing  for 
the  final  leave  of  Fort  Henry,  within  whose  walls  we 
had  suffered  eleven  long  months  of  misery,  we  actu- 
ally felt  in  high  glee,  many  of  our  number  breaking 
out  into  loud  songs — each  singing  what  pleased  him 
best.  "Hail  Columbia,"  "The  Star  Spangled  Ban- 
ner," "Hunters  of  Kentucky,"  "  Yankee  Doodle," 
&c.,  resounded  through  the  prison,  calling  quite  a 
crowd  about  the  doors  and  windows.  We  were 
marched  out  through  two  close  columns  of  soldiers, 
and  attached  by  pairs  to  a  long  chain,  by  means  of 
a  locked  ring  passing  through  a  link  of  the  chain  and 
the  centre  of  the  connecting  bar  of  the  liand-cufTs. 
About  the  ancles  were  also  fastened  large  bands  of 
iron  and  long  chains  attached,  which  as  we  walked 
we  were  obliged  to  carry  in  our  hands. 

In  this  condition  we  were  marched  to  the  water, 
where  we  were  disengaged  from  the  long  chain  and 
thrust  with  our  irons  on  into  a  barge  that  was  to  con- 
vey us  down  the  Rideau  canal.  We  were  now  worse 
oti'than  when  in  prison.  Crowded  into  the  small 
compass  which  the  barge  afforded,  and  on  a  concave 
floor,  with  a  tight,  strong  deck  covering  us — with 
but  little  light  and  less  ventillation — cramped  and  ja- 
ded with  our  irons,   we  suffered  exceedingly,  and 


M 


»! 


m 


58 


I3IPRIS0NMENT  IN    FORT  HENRY. 


n 


U 


;  !,i 


more  than  the  veriest  felons  should  suflfer.  We  were 
not  allowed  to  come  at  all  on  deck,  and  consequently 
saw  nothing  wherewith  we  might  have  amused  our 
minds,  and  in  some  measure  relieved  the  misery  of 
our  oppression.  When  we  arrived  at  the  St.  Law- 
rence again,  we  were  placed  in  the  holds  of  two  small 
steamers  that  conveyed  us  to  Quebec,  where  we  ar- 
rived in  the  afternoon  of  the  27th,  and  were  soon 
placed  aboard  her  Britanic  Majesty'  ship  BufTala, 
Captain  Wood. 

Those  of  us  who  had  faintly  hoped  our  journe} 
should  end  at  Quebec,  now  saw  that  it  was  yet  to 
be  prolonged,  but  as  to  where  or  whither  we  were 
being  forced,  we  could  gain  no  knowledge.  One 
thing  we  were  certain  of:  we  were  being  carried 
farther  and  farther  from  our  homes — our  wives — our 
families — and  all  that  we  held  deaj  and  sacred  in 
life.  The  cherished  scenes  of  our  boyhood's  sweet 
hours  came  thronging  upon  our  memories,  and  bit- 
ter thoughts  were  roused  in  our  agonized  minds 
against  the  oppressors  who  were  thus  carrying  us 
forth  to  spend  our  lives  in  misery,  woe  and  degreda- 
tion — and  perhaps  to  be  bowed  to  the  earth  with 
bondage  in  some  foreign  work-house,  or  penal  col- 
ony— and  tliis,  too,  where  we  had  committed  no 
crime  against  humanity  or  law.  Well  might  Justice 
veil  her  face  in  shame  for  the  oiitrnges  which  Brit- 
ish tyrany  was  enacting  in  her  sacred  name,  and 
well  might  the  poet's  words  be  reversed  : 

♦'For  Britain's  iron  rod  and  pciiuprrc.Must, 

Tlit'ir  countless  numbers  to  the  earth  have  crushed." 


^i       tiitU 


■"i: 


'V'i-\  '■■ 


^\->-  '  '.  . 


I 


!fj 


■.H;» 


CHAPTER      IV 


CONFINEMENT    IN    A    TRANSPORT    SHIP. 

On  the  28th  of  September,  1839,  the  Butlalo  hoist- 
ed sail  and  departed  from  Quebec.  When  taken  on 
l)oard,  our  names  were  severally  called  and  we  passed 
below,  w'here  w^e  found  forty-seven  French  prison- 
ers, who  had  been  tried  and  condemned  similarly  to 
ourselves,  and  like  us  were  equally  ignorant  of  their 
destination,  or  even  of  their  sentence.  They  had, 
liowever,  had  intimation  of  their  beins*  removed  some 
days  previously,  wherebv  their  friends  had  opportu- 
nity to  furnish  them  with  a  little  additional  clothinp^, 
making  their  condition  in  this  respect  more  comfort- 
able than  our  own.  For  ourselves,  we  were  in  no 
enviable  situation  for  a  sea  voyage.  Destitute  of 
comforts,  or  even  apologies  for  them,  the  warm 
weather  had,  with  our  long  confinement,  debilitated 
us  exceedingly — adding  yet  more  to  our  misery  by 
increasing  the  number  of  vermin  that  swarmed  on 
our  persons.  We  were  herded  now  upon  the  third 
deck,  which  lay  below  the  water  level.  Our  quar- 
ters were  not  over  commodious,  whilst  light  and 
fresh  air  came  to  us  in  stinted  quantities.    Ournum- 


f! 


i  I 


«1 


60 


THE    TRANSPORT 


V   1  i> 


bers  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  thirty-four — four 
of  whom  were  confined  for  other  crimes  than  were 
charged  against  us.  We  strongly  suspected  they 
were  promised  great  favors,  in  case  they  should  dis- 
cover aught  in  our  conduct  derogatory  to  that  meek 
submission  which  it  behoved  us  to  observe,  as  un- 
worthy recipients  of  such  bountiful  goodness  from 
our  royal  benefactors.  Two  of  them  were  confined 
with  us  in  Fort  Henry;  the  other  two  accompanied 
the  nineteen  from  Toronto.  Our  berths,  ranged 
around  the  hold,  accommodated  two  persons  in  each, 
with  bedding  of  the  kind  and  quality  of  that  at  Fort 
Henry.  Tubs  for  the  reception  of  filth  were  also 
provided.  These,  with  the  occasional  luxury  of 
washing,  constituted  the  sum  total  of  our  conven- 
iences.      ,      .    .  .'    .    , 

Whilst  we  were  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  we 
sufiered  beyond  measure  from  stormy  weather.  The 
waves  dashed  against  the  sides  of  the  vessel  with  a 
stunning  sound,  whilst  the  vessel  itself  pitched  to  and 
fro  like  a  drunken  man.  To  us  landsmen,  most  of 
whom  had  never  been  before  upon  the  sea,  it  ap- 
peared frightful.  Nothing  moveable  could  retain 
any  definite  position ;  and  the  alacrity  which  all  as- 
sumed in  their  movements,  would  have  puzzled  the 
most  artful  '^dodger™"  The  floor  was  shppery  with 
the  contents  of  the  tubs  ;  and  the  men  pitched,  now 
here,  now  there,  bringing  up  perhaps  in  the  bowels 
of  a  friend,  or  diving  submissively,  though  reluctant- 
IVf  amongst  the  tubs ;    whilst  the  tubs  themselves 


; 


SHIP. 


61 


our 
ere 
hey 
dis- 
leck 
uri- 


• 


thumped  with  equal  carelessness,  and  a  good  deal 
less  concern,  among  the  men.  Here  one  might  be 
seen  clinging  to  the  coat  of  a  fellow — there  another 
upon  all  fours — yonder  another  bumping  his  head 
unmercifully  in  attempting  to  secure  a  position  in  his 
berth.  To  some  it  was  amusing  and  laughable — to 
others  the  reverse.  Some  were  enjoying  it  as  well 
as  they  might — others  were  cursing  and  swearing. 
For  the  week  we  were  thus  tossed,  most  of  our  nem- 
ber  were  unable  to  taste  food.  If  it  were  swallowed 
the  stomach  instantly  rejected  it.  All  of  us  were  ex- 
hausted \vith  sickness  and  fatigue. 

Ordinary  sea  sickness  furnishes  no  comparison 
to  that  we  experienced  in  the  hold  of  the  Buffalo.  If 
one  should  wish  to  observe  its  effect  in  all  its  hor- 
ror— the  loathing  that  takes  hold  of  the  soul — the  en- 
ergies of  the  mind  deadened — ambition  quenched 
and  hope  put  out — let  him  become  the  unwilling  in- 
mate of  a  convict  ship,  and  he  will  receive  his  grati- 
fication in  full. 

As  we  began  to  recover  from  the  effects  of  the 
storm,  and  things  in  our  hold  had  resumed  their  for- 
mer appearance,  all  of  us  that  could  stand  were  mus- 
tered up  and  ranked  into  messes  of  twelve  each. — 
From  each  mess  was  chosen  one  to  receive  and  dis- 
tribute the  food  of  his  mess,  and  who  for  distinction 
was  called  "captain."  Our  food  consisted  of  one- 
half  pound  of  bread,  one-half  pound  of  meat — pork 
and  beef  alternately — a  pint  of  skilly  in  the  morning, 
a  pint  of  cocoa  or  tea  at  night,  a  pint  of  water  and  j\ 


m 


THE    TRANSPORT 


Mli 


small  quantity  of  ^^jfTper  day.  Wlicn  the  cook's 
voice  was  heard  re j  mating,  "Dinner,  O!"  the  u])per 
sentry  would  passtne  word  to  him  on  the  second  deck, 
who  repeated  it  to  the  sentry  on  the  third  de6k,  when 
our  several  "captains"  would  pass  up  the  ladder 
through  the  hatch,  which  was  just  large  enough  to 
admit  one  person  comfbrtahly  at  a  time.  Receiving 
their  several  kids  offood  from  the  cook,  tliey  returned 
again  in  the  same  manner.  Our  food  heing  disposed 
of,  at  a  signal  the  empty  kids  were  passed  to  the  hatch, 
where  they  were  received  by  sentries  or  the  cook's 
mate,  and  returned  to  the  cook's  galley. 

We  were  permitted  a  physician,  who  appeared 
quite  humane  to  us.  Through  his  influence,  when 
we  had  been  at  sea  three  weeks,  we  were  allowed 
two  and  three  liours  on  deck  each  day,  in  companies 
of  two  to  four  and  five  messes  at  a  time.  Whether 
the  doctor  was  moved  with  pure  feelings  of  pity,  I 
cannot  say.  For  his  services,  he  was  paid  a  stipu- 
late sum  for  each  individual  that  should  arrive  at  his 
destination  alive.  It  was,  therefore,  for  his  pecuni- 
ary interest  that  we  should  be  cared  for,  that  our 
lives  should  not  be  too  greatly  endangered.  This 
permission  on  deck  was  indeed  a  great  relief  to  us. 
Though  we  appeared  contented  to  oar  keepers,  yet 
we  had  thoughts  that  grew  into  a  purpose  to  be  free. 
Among  the  French  prisoners  were  two  or  three  old 
sea  captains,  in  whose  skill  the  officers  of  the  Bufl^alo 
placed  a  good  degree  of  confidence;  for  they  often 
allowed  them  to  take  the  sun's  position  and  the  reck- 


8HIP. 


Oiling  of  the  ship,  and  even  went  so  far  now  and  thc?i 
to  ask  their  counsel.  Compared  to  our  former  keep- 
ers, those  who  were  now  over  us  were  humane  in- 
deed. We  had  no  ill  will  against  them,  for  they 
treated  us  as  well  as  their  circumstances  vould  per- 
mit. They  were  instruments  used  by  otlier  hands 
in  carrying  out  their  designs.  Had  they  been  as 
destitute  of  humanity  as  the  power  above  them,  wc 
should  have  found  an  end  of  trouble  ere  the  ship  had 
ended  her  voyage.       .  • 

Notwithstanding  the  improvement  in  our  trcatinent, 
we  could  not  be  content  with  our  position.  We  suf- 
fered still.  We  were  being  carried,  we  knew  not 
whither,  but  surmised  to  some  foreign  land,  where 
our  conditions  would  be  worse  and  worse.  W^e 
were  therefore  determined  to  make  an  effort  to  stop 
the  course  of  the  ship  and  head  her  for  New  York. 

Towards  the  aft  of  the  deck  upon  which  we  were 
allowed,  was  a  small  room  containing  a  quantity  of 
muskets  which  were  always  kept  loaded  and  beyo- 
neted,  with  well  filled  cartridge  boxes  hanging  near 
each  gun.  Uusually  our  dinner  was  served  first, 
when  frequently  a  gang  of  thirty  or  forty  of  us  would 
be  on  deck  whilst  the  officers  and  soldiers  were  at 
their  dinner.  At  such  times  the  guard  were  com- 
paratively weak — often  not  more  than  three  or  four 
sentries.  We  had  conceived  the  idea  of  seizing  the 
arms  at  some  such  opportune  moment — confine  the 
soldiers,  &c.,  below  the  hatches,  compel  the  sailors 
to  work  the  vessel  into  New-York  or  some  other  port 


f ' 


I* 


1 1 


If 


64 


THE    TRANSPORT 


in  tho  vicinity,  when  wc  would  go  on  shore  and  leave 
the  ship  for  its  ofTicors.  But  if  the  sailors  should  re- 
fuse to  perform  duty,  there  were  enough  of  our  own 
number,  with  some  assistance  from  the  "land  lub- 
ber" portion  of  us,  that  could  have  done  the  business. 
Every  thing  seemed  so  favorable  to  our  purpose  that 
we  were  quite  sanguine  of  success  ;  and  that  too,  wc 
flattered  ourselves,  without  blood-shed,  or  at  least  but 
a  very  little  of  it.  We  could  not  concoct  our  plans 
so  rapidly  a;  we  desired,  for  we  so  strongly  suspect- 
ed the  four  spies  that  we  had  to  use  the  utmost  cau- 
tion. We  had  the  plan  finally  arranged,  and  had 
set  the  day  when  we  should  be  near  the  latitude  of 
New- York.  The  day  quickly  came,  and  nothing 
yet  had  occurred  to  damp  our  antici[)ations.  Joyfully 
we  mustered  for  dinner,  and  for  once  we  ate  with 
glad  hearts,  imngining  the  hour  of  our  delivery  was 
near  at  hand.  But  judge  of  our  disappointment  when, 
attempting  to  go  on  deck,  we  found  our  hatch  barred 
down.  We  divined  at  once,  that  our  plot  was  mis- 
trusted if  not  known.  In  the  afternoon  we  were 
visited  by  the  captain  and  his  officers,  who  closely 
questioned  us  concerning  our  motives  and  plans  ; 
but  we  so  effectually  feigned  astonishment,  that  we 
quite  convinced  them  that  we  had  not  thought  of  the 
thing.  *  '   '   '     - 

The  captain  continued  with  us  for  some  time,  talk- 
ing upon  the  matter.  The  substance  of  his  remarks 
was :  that  wo  had  behaved  ourselves  so  well,  he  had 
been  disposed  to  grant  us  considerable  indulgence — 


h 
I 


6Hir. 


eft 


but  in  so  doing,  had  been  too  careless  of  Ibo  safety 
of  bis  vessel — I'or  he  was  fully  ruvnro  wo  niig'ii  lmv( 
easily  taken  possession  of  it,  bad  we  felt  dct(»rnuned 
upon  it.  Tbougb  most  captains  would  put  us  in 
cbains  at  once,  be  would  forbear  going  to  tbat  extrem- 
ity at  present;  but  lie  sbould  ta!:e  good  care  t'lnt  we 
bad  no  further  opport\inity  for  mutiny.  From  thnt 
time  the  batches  were  kept  closely  barrcfl,  and  un- 
locked only  when  necessary  for  inf;re^s  or  egress. 
Instead  of  being  allowed  on  deck  in  as  largo  numbers, 
i)ut  one  n>ess  were  permitted  at  a  time,  guard(;d  by 
nearly  an  equal  ninnber  of  armed  soldiers,  and  tiicii 
only  for  an  hour  in  t!ic  twenty-four.  '*'' 

This  was  a  sad  stroke  to  our  hope  i.  Tbrougliont 
the  whole  of  our  confinement  up  to  this  time,  wo  had 
fanned  t'ac  oft  flickering  flam.e,  but  n')w  iho  prospect 
for  freedom  was  blafited.  My  own  feelings  were 
more  intense  than  they  bad  been  at  any  previous 
time,  unless  I  except  the  occasion  of  t'".c  supposed 
death  warrant.  Afterward,  on  our  arrival  hi  Van 
Diemen,  we  learned  our  surmising^  were  true — that 
VVm.  Highland,  one  of  the  suspected  four,  gave  the 
information  which  led  to  the  defeat  of  our  scheme. 
lie  learned  nothing  positive,  but  ^  aw  something 
which  led  him  to  mistrust  our  design,  and  according- 
ly conveyed  information  to  that  etfcct  that  same  day 
to  the  captain.  But  bis  baseness  availed  him  noth- 
ing, for  we  succeeded  so  well  in  deceiving  the  offi- 
cers, that  they  did  not  cre.'it  !?'s  tale,  though  it  was 
enough  to  give  them  that  vigilance  which  completely 


r; 


n 


1 1 


66 


THE   TRANSPORT 


prevented  the  chance  of  another  trial  on  our  pari. 

As  we  neared  the  tropics,  the  heat  of  the  cHmate 
greatly  aggravated  our  misery,  rendering  the  atmos- 
phere of  our  hold  more  loathsome,  and  the  vermin 
that  yet  were  our  companions,  more  numerous  and 
active.  Confined  to  a  pint  of  water  a  day,  our  thirst 
was  often  so  excessive,  that  to  endure  it  seemed  im- 
possible. From  this  and  the  effects  of  so  close  con- 
unement  in  the  putrid  atmosphere,  and  living  on  salt 
provisions,  we  became  infected  with  disease.  Our 
teeth  loosened  in  our  heads,  and  often  were  so  pain- 
ful as  to  quite  produce  delirium.  The  doctor's  for- 
ceps were  called  into  pretty  active  requisition.  In 
this  respect  I  suffered  less  than  most  of  my  compan- 
ions, for  I  lost  but  three  of  my  teeth.  Others  lost 
even  eight,  ten,  and  a  dozen. 

About  two  weeks  before  our  arrival  at  Rio  Janeiro, 
the  only  place  at  which  the  ship  made  any  stop,  t 
was  attacked  with  inflamation  of  the  eyes,  which  was 
unusually  severe.  For  some  weeks  I  was  deprived 
of  the  faculty  of  sight,  and  being  otherwise  greatly 
enfeebled  in  health,  I  had  no  expectation  of  ever  re- 
covering, and  fully  believed  the  doctor  when  he  told 
me  I  could  not  stand  it  much  longer.  The  pain  was 
intense,  and  for  along  time  I  had  to  be  carried  back 
and  forth  from  the  hold  to  the  deck,  where  I  was  al- 
lowed the  greater  portion  of  the  time,  and  to  which 
indulgence  I  mainly  attribute  my  eventual  recovery. 

The  Buffalo  lay  at  Rio  Janeiro  some  four  days; 
atl  which  time  the  prisoners  were  kept  closely  con- 


fined 1 
inhabi 
empei 
other 
light  c 
ing  fli 
the  cit 
their  ( 
little  c 
miser.1 
ing  th< 
but  in 
fruits 
preser 
friend 
also  w 
Not 
a  terri 
botton 
and  in 
requir 
the  CO 
Toth 
ercise 
privec 
enjoy 
gulph 
sequc 
fact, 
ems 


«HIP. 


67 


pait. 
[imate 
atmos- 
ermiii 
IS  and 
r  thirst 
ed  im- 
se  con- 
on  salt 
Our 
}o  pain- 
r's  for- 
m.     In 
lornpan- 
lers  lost 

Janeiro, 
f  stop,  t 
lich  waa 
leprived 
I  greatly 
ever  re- 
1  he  told 
pain  was 
ied  back 
I  was  al- 
io which 
ecovery. 
)ur  days; 
lely  con- 


4 


i 

I 


fined  to  the  hold.  It  was  a  great  gala  day  with  the 
inhabitants — celebrating,  1  believe,  the  birth  of  the 
emperor.  Wc  could  hoar  the  firing  of  cannon  and 
Other  demonstrations  of  joy.  Through  the  one  sky- 
light our  men  could  catch  glimpses  of  the  gay,  wav- 
ing flags,  and  of  the  green  mountain  sides  behind 
the  city.  Our  men  crowded  about  the  skylight,  and 
their  eager  expressions  of  the  great  beauty  of  what 
little  could  be  seen,  made  my  situation  but  the  more 
miserable,  ns  my  affliction  prevented  me  from  catch- 
ing the  glad  sight  of  green  fields  and  woods  though 
but  in  a  stinted  measure.  Fresh  provisions  and 
fruits  were  procured,  and  as  long  as  they  could  be 
preserved  our  health  materially  mended.  Here  a 
friend  wrote  a  letter  for  me  to  my  parents.  Others 
also  wrote  home. 

Not  long  after  putting  to  sea  again,  we  encountered 
a  terrific  gale.  Most  on  board  expected  to  go  to  the 
bottom.  The  vessel  was  rather  tlie  worse  for  age, 
and  in  her  heavy  labo rings  she  sprang  a  leak,  which 
required  much  vigilance  to  overcome.  Those  (ii 
the  convicts  who  were  able  were  put  to  the  pumps. 
To  them  the  exercise  was  beneficial.  Sufficient  ex- 
ercise was  one  of  the  great  things  we  had  been  de- 
prived of.  But  to  us  poor  people,  whose  prospect-of 
enjoying  life  was  blasted,  the  thought  of  being  en- 
gulphed  by  the  sea  had  very  few  terrors,  and  we  con- 
sequently felt  quite  indifferent  as  to  our  fate.  a« 
fact,  many  of  us  hoped  she  would  go  down  to  the  cav- 
erns of  the  deep,  where  our  sorrows  and  our  troubles 


-» 


I  ! 


Tin:    TRANSPORT 


would  alike  bo  at  an  end.  In  doubling  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope  \vc  also  experienced  much  rough  vveatli- 

.  We  were  ansurcd  in  our  own  minds  that  we  were 
uidcod  bound  {or  Sydney  or  Ilobart;  but  wliat  the 
nature  or  length  of  our  j)unishn)ent  was  to  be,  we 
couM  not  conjetiturc.  We  felt  reckless  of  our  fate, 
if  wc  could  but  e.-jcapc  t'.ic  doom  to  which  British 
power  wns  consigning  u ;.  Wc  even  longed  that 
domo  piratical  craft  would  swcc[)  doWii  upon  the 
dhip  and  t:iko  her  a  prize,  Onr  hope  brig^.icned  u 
little  one  day  when  a  sail  of  tliis  kind  was  descried, 
Uut  she  catnc  only  near  cnough-to  see  that  our  ship 
presented  t  io  formidable  an  appearance,  without  an 
adequate  prospect  of  booty,  and  so  bore  away  on  an- 
other tack. 

I  Towards  t!ie  close  of  t'.ie  voyage,  our  situation  from 
<*i(Ckues3  bejuno  much  worse.  A  great  many  of  us 
were  on  the  sick  h:-;-t.  Through  the  persuasion  of  the 
physician,  we  \\ere  allowed  greater  privileges  on 
deck  than  wo  had  been,  thougli  most  vigilantly  guard- 
ed. I lird  an  opportunity  oilered,  we  were  too  en- 
feebled and  dispirited  to  make  an  attempt  to  master 
the  ship,  though  the  odds  had  b  jn  greatly  in  our  fa- 

One  only  of  our  number  died.  It  was  Asa  Priest. 
He  was  a  quiet,  good  man — agetl  about  sixty — who 
left  a  wife  and  family,  1  think  he  told  me,  of  sixchil- 
(Jron.  lie  possessed  ardent  ailections,  and  the  rude 
blow  that  hud  severed  him  from  the  idolized  beings 


\ 


SHIP. 


69 


\ 

^ 


of  his  heart,  shattered  its  finely  strung  chords,  and 
he  hterally  pined  away  to  dc;ith — of*no  disease  other 
than  a  broken  heart.  It  was  a  solemn  occasion  to 
his  comrades,  though  they  felt  not  to  mourn  his 
death,  for  they  were  well  a^.surcd  he  had  gone  to  a 
brighter  world,  "Where  the  wicked  cease  from  troub- 
ling and  the  weary  are  at  rest."  A  portion  of  his 
comrades  were  summoned  on  deck  to  witness  the 
funeral  rites,  and  see  his  body  consigned  to  its  wat- 
ery grave,  according  to  the  forms  of  the  church  of 
England.  Soldiers  doubly  armed  guarded  us,  lest 
we  should  take  advantnge  of  the  occasion.  It  was 
at  this  juncture  that  a  sentry's  pistol  was  accidentally 
discharged,  which  for  a  few  moments  set  the  ship's 
crew  in  general  comiriotion.  They  imagined  the 
prisoners  in  the  hold  were  attempting  to  take  the 
vessel !  Prcsciitl}'',  asccrtaiining  the  cause,  quiet  was 
restored.  :-,..-'  i^r  i  >•  .>;    j,,:       ,     v., 

During  the  whole  time  no  land  was  seen,  except 
by  those  who  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  hill  tops  at  Rio 
Janeiro,  till  near  the  close  of  the  voyage,  when  we 
passed  by  a  few  small  uninhabited  islands.  Occa- 
sionally we  were  gratified  with  the  gambolings  of  the 
finny  tribes  in  the  element  upon  which  we  were  be- 
ing borne.  We  often  amused  ourselves  in  witness- 
ing the  pranks  of  the  "flying  fish,"  so  called.  They 
have  the  power  of  rising  with  the  surface  of  the  wave 
and  then  leaping  forward,  somewhat  after  the  fashion 
of  a  flying  squirrel.  Generally  they  *' fly"  against 
the  motion  of  the  waves,  and  by  this  means  often 


!''■' 


i! 


i     ■   \ 


>        i 


i  1 


^0 


THE   TRANSPORT 


M 


m 


1 1 


alighted  on  tho  ship's  deck   where  they  had  no  more 
powers  of  locomotion  than  any  other  fish. 

It  was  in  the  fore  part  of  February,  that  a  sentry 
casually  remarked,  "We  shall  soon  be  in  port."— 
"What  port?"  wasengerly  asked  ;  ''Hobart  town." 
This  was  the  first  information  we  had  received  of  our 
destination.  It  was  about  the  8th  or  9th  that  "  Land 
ho!"  was  shojted  from  the  mast  head.  A  strong 
wind  springing  up,  we  were  driven  beyond  its  sight. 
The  next  day  it  was  hailed  again — the  second,  we 
regained  the  point  from  wh*5nce  we  had  been  driven. 
Again  we  were  driven  off,  as  though  the  winds  were 
unwilhng  that  we  should  be  submitted  to  the  degra- 
dation of  a  Van  Dieman  convict.  The  day  after,  the 
ship  made  Derwent  river,  up  which,  at  a  distance  of 
thirty-five  miles,  lay  Hobart  town,  where  we  were 
landed  on  the  12th  day  of  February,  1840.  The 
French  prisoners  were  conveyed  to  Sydney,  in  Aus- 
tralia. Before  leaving  the  boat,  we  were  visited  by 
what  is  termed  the  board  of  health.  Mr.  Gunn,  the 
Chief  Superintendent,  with  two  or  three  clerks,  were 
in  the  cabin.  Before  them  we  were  brought  separ- 
ately, to  undergo  a  most  searching  examination. 
Questions  were  asked,  and  answers  given — as  to  our 
names, ages,  trades,  nativity,religion,  whether  married, 
if  so,  where  lived  the  wife — -what  the  number  of  chil- 
dren-— their  sex  and  ages — whether  our  parents  were 
alive — their  ages,  religion,  residence — place  of  na- 
tivity-T-amount  of  education — whether  we  could  read 
%Ui  writp  ourselves — where  arrested — where,  and 


SHIP. 


71 


»» 


h 


!l 


when,  and  for  what  tried — how  long  sentenced — 
when  we  left  Canada — what  were  our  numbers — and 
what  scars  on  our  persons.  Of  course  we  could  not 
tell  what  was  our  sentence,  or  how  long  its  duration; 
for  of  this  we  were  entirely  ignorant  ourselves,  where- 
upon the  clerk  was  ordered  to  put  us  down  for  life. 
At  the  close  of  this  examination,  we  were  taken 
into  another  room,  stripped  of  our  clothing,  and  a 
minute  description  of  every  scar,  blemish,  or  mole  on 
our  persons,  placed  on  record.  There  was  another 
officer  among  tho  rest,  who  eyed  us  most  searching- 
ly,  and  who  also  put  upon  record  a  faithful  descrip- 
tion of  our  features?,  color  of  hair,  eye-brows,  eyes, 
number  of  teeth  lost,  appearance  of  nose,  ears,  chin, 
mouth  &c.,  together  with  our  height  and  weight. 
By  this  method,  and  to  which  every  person  is  forced 
to  submit,  such  a  minute  description  is  obtained,  that 
it  is  utterly  hopeless  for  a  prisoner  to  think  of  es- 
caping from  the  infernal  clutches  of  those  petty  ty- 
rants, that  hold  such  detestable  sway  in  that  prison 
land.  The  French  prisoners  were  not  examined 
here.  I  believe  they  suffered  less  in  every  respect, 
tlian  did  our  party.  They  were  liberated  sooner,  and 
assisted  in  getting  home.  But  the  moral  obliquity  of 
the  crime  committed  by  the  Yankees,  was  so  heniou3 
in  the  eyes  of  those  philanthropists(!)  that  no  suffer- 
ing, however  severe,  was  sufficient  to  oiake  aton^« 
ment. 


It 


f    •< 


CHAPTER     V. 


I        !' 


li 


f  f 


0\ 


Oim    RECEPTION 

had 


lANDY    nAY    STATION, 


^(1,  who 


Mirconiing  had  a1.traclc(i  a  large  crowd,  who  were 
(ill  ag;ij)C  t )  sec  tlic  rebel  Yankees,  of  whom  so  much 
had  been  heard,  and  yet  so  httlc  was  known.  Aa 
the  news  spread  into  the  country,  men  and  women 
flocked  in,  Cvcn  IVoin  a  djstancc  of  one  hundred 
miles,  to  gratiiy  tiicir  curiosity.  They  had  imagined 
us  to  be  an  uni-^ralcial  set  of  barbr.rians,  with  no 
christian  characlcribtics  in  our  com;>osition — that  we 
were  a  strange  colored  and  a  strange  acting  peo- 
ple—speaking  a  strange  language,  and  behaving  in 
all  thi!ig.s  like  no  otlier  mortals.  In  fact,  to  a  great 
many  of  the  people  of  that  country,  we  wore  almost 
as  great  an  object  of  wonderment,  as  were  the  fol- 
lowers of  Cortez  to  the  simple-minded  Aztecs.  We 
were  therefore  greeted  by  a  large  crowd  of  aston- 
ished spectators,  and  a;  wc  were  marched  along 
through  the  streets,  wo  could  hear  numberless  ex- 
pressions from  the  lookers  on.  Ladies  from  their 
carriages  would  exclaim  to  one  another — their  fca« 
tares  nmrked  with  unusual  lines  of  astonishment — 
ey  look  like  our  men,  da 


by, 


theyl"    ♦^Thejr 


SANDY    BAY    STATION. 


73 


1 


are  white,  too,  and  they  s|)eak  just  hke  our  men!" 
"I  would  not  have  believed  it  had  1  not  seen  it!" 

We  had  been  escorted  to  the  shore  in  a  large  boat, 
something  like  a  scow  propelled  by  oars.  On  shore 
we  were  received  by  a  number  of  her  queenship's 
most  dutil'ul  minions,  wcnring  blue  roundabouts,  with 
a  badge  on  one  arm,  and  cnrryiiig  a  bludgeon  in 
the  ot-icr  hand,  as  ensignia  of  their  of  their  olVice — 
the  coijslablc.ship.  JNo  sooner  hud  wo  placed  our 
lect  on  land,  tluiii  the  most  rigid  features  of*  a  looker 
on  would  have  relapsed  into  a  henrty  laugh.  We 
had  been  so  loijg  on  board  ship — subject  to  the  cease- 
less tumbling  of  the  water — that  it  was  with  the  ut- 
most diiiicuity  we  could  keep  any  certain  position. 
In  spitjofall  our  exertions,  we  presented  a  more 
unsteady  appearance  than  a  line  of  tolerably  drunken 
men  could  have  done.  The  ground  lieaved,  rolled, 
and  tumbled  about  us  at  a  Ic  irful  rate.  Its  a^ngry 
billows  would  rise  plumb  into  our  very  faces,  and  no 
effort  of  ours  could  prevent  thom.  So  it  appeared 
to  us.  This  scene  was  highly  amusing  to  the  crowd, 
ulibrdmg  them  much  food  ibr  merriment.  It  was 
not  merry  v.oik  ibr  us,  though,  who  were  too  enfee- 
bled, and  wiso  received  too  many  thumps  from  the 
unstable  soil  wo  were  treading.  Still  wc  could  not 
help  ourselves  from  indulging  an  occasional  laugh 
at  tlie  ludicrous  performancesof  our  fellow-sufferers. 
Some  of  our  niunbL'r  were  so  weak  they  could  scarce- 
ly crawl ;  yet  they  were  urged  and  hurried  along  by 
the  aforesaid  minions  in  blue  roundabouts,  with  some 


N> 


^Jl 
k^^^*'" 


II 


I' 


74 


SANDY    BAY 


such  comforting  assurances  as — "Come,  come,  you 
lazy  crawlers,  creep  on,  creep  on  ;  you'll  find  faster 
travelling  than  this  by  the  morrow,  with  a  loaded 
cart  of  stone  ;  by  my  bloody  oath  you  will.  Come 
along,  come  along.  Ah!  you  are  not  quite  so  spright- 
ly as  you  were  in  Canada,  shooting  the  loyal  subject* 
of  our  good  Queen  ;  but  you'll  have  no  rifles  here — 

dy  carts  and  stone,  and  a  plenty  of  these,  we  can 
lei-  you."  "No,  no,"  cried  one  from  the  crowd, 
whom,  we  afterwards  learned,  was  a  sailor  from  our 
own  country;  "By  my  bloody  oath,  had  they  their 
rifles,  you  would  not  dare  talk  like  that." 

We  had  gone  but  a  short  distance  when  we  passed 
four  scaffolds,  upon  which  as  many  men  were  just 
about  to  be  executed !  And  a  little  further  along, 
beyond  the  town,  we  passed  a  gang  of  criminals — 
some  two  hundred  in  number — working  the  road  in 
heavy  chains ;  and  yet  a  little  further  along  another 
gang,  without  the  chains.  This  we  thought  was  an 
ominous  reception.  We  had  hardly  our  feet  on  the 
soil,  when  almost  tlie  first  objects  that  greeted  our 
vision,  were  gibbets,  and  men  toding  in  the  most  ab- 
ject misery,  looking  more  degraded  even  than  so 
many  dumb  beasts.  Such  sights,  and  the  supposi- 
tion that  such  might  be  our  fate,  served  to  sink  the 
iron  still  deeper  in  our  souls.  Our  march  continued 
till  we  arrived  at  Sandy  Bay  Station,  a  mile  and  a 
half,  or  such  a  matter,  from  the  town.  Here,  we 
were  given  to  understand,  we  should  remain  for  the 
present.     We  were  glad,  heartily  glad,  to  leave  the 


■i 


the 


STATION. 


76 


confined 


)f  tlie  ship  for 


ntuation  on  land,  where 
we  could  enjoy  a  purer  atmosphere,  and  we  hoped, 
greater  lihertv.  How  sweet  the  breezes  were  fc^  us, 
none  but  tliose  who  have  passed  a  similar  conf.ae- 
ment  can  tell.  Though  our  prospects  of*  happiness 
were  so  drear,  yet  it  seemed  good  to  tread  again  the 
earth,  notwithstanding  we  had  such  difficulty  of  man- 
aging our  snit.  For  two  or  three  weeks  we  were 
more  or  less  bothered  with  this  phantom  movement 
of  the  earth — and  for  the  whole  of  this  time,  the 
ceaseless  beating  of  the  su  gpi  on  the  ship's  side, 
continued  to  ring  in  our  ea"s  ;  whilst  our  *'bunks"  in 
the  "cabins"  rocked  to  and  tro  as  did  those  on  the 
water.  We  ooidd  not  work  he  idea  out  of  our  heads, 
but  gradually  the  feolinr  wore  away.  The  objects 
about  us  all  had  unfamiliar  phases,  and  we  felt  too 
truthfully  like  strangers  in  a  strange  land,  where  we 
knew  we  could  look  for  no  sympathy. 

We  now  had  to  exchange  our  clothing  for  the  con- 
vict's suit,  whioii  consisted  of  trowsers  and  jacket, 
made  of  a  grey  kind  of  cloth,  coarser  and  rougher 
even  than  common  carpeting,  and  which  permitted 
the  wind  to  circulate  through  its  interstices  almost  as 
freely  as  through  a  seive — a  striped  cotton  shirt 
whose  fabric  was  correspondingly  as  coarse — and  a 
skull  cap,  midc  of  stiff  sole  leather,  closely  fitting 
the  head  and  projecting  in  four  points  from  the  four 
sides,  which  points  were  so  made  that  they  could  be 
turned  up  or  down — and  a  pair  of  thick,  clumsj^ 
shoes,  without  socks.      These,  with  an  extra  shirt 


f  I 


\ . 


76 


BANDY    nAY 


ill 


for  chungo,  constituted  our  wholo  wardrobe,  every 
article  of  v.  iiicli,  (13  well  as  every  other  piece  or  par- 
cel of  property,  whetlier  of  clot'is,  wood,  stone  or 
iron,  belonging  t)  govormnont,  wns  branded  with 
the  bro;id  II.  When  we  were  t.\nvA  accoutred,  we 
looked  SI  groto^^quoly  t"nt  wecouhl  not  bc!p  bursting 
into  a  roar  ol'laun^hier ;  and  for  cjiice,  wo  wore  right 
merry.  Not  one  of  us  could  ror-ognize  his  fellow 
only  by  the  fonture ;  of  !iis  face,  which  seemed  to 
have  undc:*g'>ue  a  chingo  al-o,  s>t,!iat often  wc  were 
at  a  loss  uikJ  the  voice  could  bo  neard. 

For  a  ('cw  days  our  a^'pninttince  seemed  to  be 
thrown  into  almo.u  as  mu-^h  confusion  as  were  the 
tongues  nt  the  tower  of  BMbol  ;  consequently  it  was 
some  time  before  we  could  heroine  f  uniliar  enough 
to  recognize  each  other  ;igun  at  first  sig'.t.  Tho 
clotlios  wliich  we  had  td^en  ol}*  v/ere  tied  in  reparato 
bundles,  each  man's  name  n"»atked  thereon,  and  all 
thrown  into  a  common  store  house,  where  we  were 
assured  thev  would  be  s:ife  until  such  time  as  wc  ob- 
tained  an  indulgence,  when  we  should  ngain  have 
them.  Afterward,  when  wc  c  me  to  receive  them, 
wo  found  them  to  bo  so  nioth-t  iten  that  they  were 
ruined.  •—  ii     •■  >•    n 

At  night  wc  were  mustered  into  the  huts  or  cab- 
ins, which  here  were  some  ciglit  or  ten  in  number. 
They  are  usii  illy  built  in  a  circle  or  square,  leaving 
a  yard  or  enclosure,  where  the  men  are  mustered. 
Around  the  whole  is  a  cort  of  pallisade,  composed  of 
the  same  material  as  the  huts,  with  one  large  gate. 


STATION. 


77 


which  is  kept  locked  during  the  night.  The  huts 
huvc  usimlly  thatched  roofs  and  bare  earth  floors. 
The  walls  are  ton  and  twelve  feet  in  height,  conn- 
posod  of  pieces  of  split  timber,  set  uprightly  and  ftis- 
tcnt'd  at  the  bott  jm  to  log,^,.  The  size  of  the  hut  va- 
ries from  the  capacity  of  acconnnodati  ^g  i'roin  ten  to 
fifty  and  sixty  personf>.  The  "bunks"  are  ranged 
around  the  walls  in  two  tiers,  each  bunk  holding  one 
person.  The  amount  of  bedding  was  one  coarse 
cotto'i  rug  and  a  coarse  blanket.  Wherever  chain 
gangs  were,  or  had  been  kept,  these  huts  were  built 
of  stone. 

Our  rations  were — a  pound  and  sometimes  a  pound 
and  a  half  of  bread,  a  pint  of  skilly  morning  and  eve- 
ning, a  pound  of  boiled  mutton  or  beef  for  dinner, 
with  now  and  then  a  vciry  stinted  luxury  of  a  little 
vegetable  food,  as  turni[)s  or  cabbage.  The  bread 
was  made  from  the  very  coarsest  of  flour,  simply 
wet  v/ith  cold  water,  and  when  baked  in  the  ashes  or 
oven,  was  as  hard  and  gluey  as  could  be  imagined. 
The  skilly  was  made  in  a  large  kittle;  a  pint  of  wa- 
ter and  two  ounces  of  flour  for  each  of  the  gang, 
wejjc  taken,  the  water  boiled,  when  the  flour  was 
stirred  in,  without  salt  or  any  other  seasoning.  The 
meat  was  almost  universally  of  the  poorest  quality, 
and  often  infested  with  vermin.  It  is  supplied  on 
contract  by  the  sctders,  who  often  kill  their  leanest 
and  poorest  sheep  for  the  convicts.  The  butchering 
days  are  twice  a  weok,  and  during  the  hot  weather, 
the  flies,  which  are  much  larger  and  a  great  deal 


78 


BANDY    BAY 


;'  - i 


I       ' 


j. 


more  pr>rtiiiacious  thnn  our  own,  arr»  sure  to  pooplo 
it  alrrK<>t  instantly  with  living  tliinp;-',  unlos.s  the  great- 
est cnulion  is  observed.  I  have  ofleii  sren  the  liquor 
in  the  moat  kettle  covered  with  njnnrg^atn  of  largo 
size;  and  yet  our  hunger  was  so  craving  that  we 
were  compelled  to  eat  such  food — lor  in  that  country 
it  is  a  crime  for  a  freeman  to  ^tpe  a  prisoner  even  a 
morsel  of  food  ;  and  it  is  also  criminal  (or  the  prison- 
er to  receive  it — in  the  former  case,  punishable  with 
fines,  in  the  latter  with  stripes.  Occnsionally  wo 
were  allowed  a  few  spoonfulls  of  flour  to  stir  with  the 
liquor  of  the  ment, ;  and  whenever  we  were  allowed 
vegetable  food,  we  were  most  careful  to  save  every 
spoonful  ol'the  liquor.  f(»r  our  stomachs  were  so  sore- 
ly pinched  with  hunc^er  that  we  were  glad  of  any 
thing  in  the  form  of  foorl.  I  have  frequently  been 
under  the  cook's  window,  and  picked  out  potatoe 
parings  from  the  filth  to  satiate  the  gnawings  of  hun- 
ger. Our  rations  usually  passed  through  the  hands 
of  so  many  hired  menials,  that  they  came  to  our 
mouths  curtailed  ofton  of  half  their  proportions. 
There  were  overseers,  clerks,  constables,  cooks, 
wardsmen,  &;c.,  that  had  more  or  less  to  do  with 
these  matters.  They  were  often  of  the  most  aban- 
doned characters,  and  therefore  had  no  scruples  of 
conscience,  though  they  took  pounds  of  flesh  that  be- 
longed to  the  poor  convict.  Had  they  stinted  our 
had  rations,  we  could  have  borne  it  with  less  com- 
plaint. For  us,  it  was  useless  to  make  a  fuss — we 
were  compelled  to  take  what  we  could  get,  and  if  we 


s.-t. 


STATIOM. 


ft 


demurred,  solitary  conlinement  on  this  samo  broad 
and  vvutor,  or  thirty-six  lushes  well  laid  on  the  bare 
back  was  the  only  relief. 

I  think  it  was  on  a  Saturday  we  arrived  at  the  sta- 
tion.  The  next  Monday  we  were  to  be  honored  with 
a  visit  i^roiM  his  bulkiness,  the  grew  Sir  Jolni  Frank- 
lin, who  once  navigated  into  the  northern  seas,  and 
came  near  perishing  of  starvation.  It  was  about 
nine  or  ten  o'clock  when  he  was  discovered  approach- 
ing. VVe  were  immediately  mustered  out,  duly  ar- 
ranged, and  instructed  in  mysteries  of  that  etiquette 
which  behoved  men  of  low  degree,  crushed  dovn  to 
the  earth,  to  observe  in  the  presence  of  those  who, 
clothed  with  IJritish  power,  have  therefore  a  right  to 
lord  it  over  (Jod's  heritage  and  their  fellow  men,  just 
as  they  in  their  immaculate  power  shall  think  proper! 
The  gate  of  our  enclosure  was  opened,  and  we  hailed 
her  majesty's  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  Island  of 
Van  Dicman's  Land  and  its  dependencies.  But  we 
were  rather  awkward  in  the  respect  which  we  had 
ought  to  have  shown  him;  owing  to  the  obtuseness 
of  our  perceptions,  and  the  short  training  which  we 
had  rccieved.  For  myself  I  was  amused  with  the 
great  man's  appearance,  for  whether  he  was  great  in 
the  mental  quahties,  he  was  truly  great  in  all  that 
makes  the  man,  physically — flesh  and  blubber.  His 
head  was  chucked  down  between  his  shoulders,  for 
the  wise  provision,  no  doubt,  of  shortening  the  eso- 
phagus ;  whilst  the  stomach  made  equal  advances  to- 
ward the  head,  thus  broiging  the  two  in  luch  close 


■^ 


fiO 


8ANt)Y        VY 


fii 


proximity,  that  the  sympathy  which  is  said  by  phys* 
iologists  to  exist  between  these  organs  was  extraordi- 
narily (Icvolopcd.  But  tlie  vital  organs  were  so 
much  encroached  upon  by  these  neighbors,  that  they 
found  it  exceedingly  dillicult  to  keep  tlie  old  man  in 
sutlicient  wind,  which  came  pulbingfVom  his  brandy 
bottled  nose,  like  steam  from  the  escape  pipe  of  an 
asthmatic  bont.  Whether  nature  orisjinallv  intended 
him  for  a  walking  receiver  of  mutton.  I  am  unable  to 
say. — Tbit  of  all  men  I  ever  saw,  nme  ever  gloried 
in  sucli  hreadth  of  wnistl)nnd.  I  was  told  he  had  de- 
voured a  whole  sheep  fit  a  meal,  and  thnt  a  good  sized 
qufirt(n'  was  his  usunl  allowance,  wliich  I  have  no 
reason  to  doubt.  His  eyes  wvvo  so  sunken,  one 
c(Mild  see  nothing  of  tliem  but  the  whites,  especially 
\vhvA\  speaking,  at  which  time  he  would  look  strait 
upward. 

The  train  that  accompanied  1dm  halted  at  the  gate, 
whilst  only  his  private  secretary  remained  at  his  side. 
He  rode  a  bay  horse,  tliat,  compared  with  other 
horses,  was  equally  as  large  as  its  rider.  He  was 
dressed  in  full  uniform,  and  by  his  inflated  manner, 
indicated  the  supreme  bliss  he  felt  in  tlius  having  an 
opportunity  of  addressing  a  coninany  of  Americans. 
Passing  up  and  down  our  line  some  three  or  four 
times,  he  came  to  a  halt  near  the  centre,  and  pre- 
pared himself  for  the  tremendous  elfort  before  him. 
Our  own  party  had  an  unconunon  curiosity  to  seo 
the  end  of  the  matter,  for  we  plainly  judged  there 
was  something  coming  more  than  we  liad  yet  ima- 


gined, 
terrific 
tense  fl 
sity,  w( 
were  in 
iesty's 

Aftei 
gan. 
speech. 
what  ai 
cxtemp 
Englisl 
ken  in  1 
es  betw 
and  his 
cal,  wh 
head  w 
vated  s 
so  that 
duller  s 
ed  with 
man  w 
of  asce 
•he  sigl 
strung 
work  o 

The 

that  \v(. 

there  f( 

worst 
G 


STATION. 


81 


j^'ined.  We  know  not  but  we  should  see  the  most 
terrific  thunders  of  indignation,  accompanied  by  in- 
tense flashes  of  eloquence.  Judging  from  his  obe- 
sity, we  were  anxious  to  know  whether  his  words 
were  indeed  as  ponderous  as  her  most  gracious  ma- 
iesty's  servant.  Sir  John. 

After  much  aheming  and  hawing,  the  old  man  be- 
gan. 1  cannot  convey  any  just  conception  of  his 
speech.  He  was  at  least  two  hours  in  delivering 
what  any  American  school-boy  could  have  spoken 
extemporaneously  in  twenty  minutes.  The  Queen's 
English  suffered  not  a  little — for  his  words  were  spo- 
ken in  half  finished  sentences,  witli  stammering  [)aus- 
es  between  that  exceeded  the  sentences  themselves, 
and  his  language  was  exces:si\  ^ly  poor  and  tautologi- 
cal, whilst  his  voice  was  evei  worse  than  all.  His 
head  was  thrown  so  far  back  that  his  eyes  were  ele- 
vated skywards,  at  an  angle  of  quite  eighty  degrees, 
so  that  all  tliat  could  be  seen  of  the  dull  orbs  of  a  still 
'luller  soul,  was  a  halo  of  dingy  whiteness,  emblazen- 
ed  with  a  network  of  scarlet.  Whether  the  great 
man  was  a  profound  scholar  or  not,  I  had  no  means 
of  ascertaining.  If  he  had  ever  obtained  celebrit}^, 
the  sight  of  ul  Yankees  must  have  completely  un- 
strung his  faculties,  for  he  made  more  blundering 
work  of  his  business  than  a  dullard. 

The  substance  of  his  harranguc  seemed  to  be : 

that  we  were  bad  men — very  bad  men — were  sent 

there  for  a  very  bad  crime — rebellion — one  of  the 

worst  crimes  that  could  be — worse  than  murder — 
6 


I   vl 


f    !!■ 


N^ 


82 


SAXDY    BAY 


didn't  know  what  to  do  with  us — guess  should  put  u* 
on  the  roads  awhile — work  good  for  us — should  send 
home  for  orders — send  home  to  know  what  to  do  with 
us — at  present  put  us  on  probation — if  we  behaved 
well  on  probation,  get  rewarded  for  it. 

Being  informed  here  by  Capt,  Wood  that  many  of 
us  were  Americen  citizens,  and  therefore  not  rebels, 
the  old  man  seemed  more  incensed,  and  went  on  : 
Bad  men — bad  men — very  bad  inen — worse  than 
rebels — didn't  know  what  to  do  with  us — had  stirred 
up  mischief  among  her  gracious  majesty's  loyal  sul)- 
jects — heinous  crime—Canada  men  not  so  bad — had 
sent  them  to  anotiicr  j)lace  for  better  treatment — 
should  keep  us  here  for  hard  punishment — rglad  to 
hear  we'd  been  good  men,  peaceable  men;  but  that 
was  notliing — great  rascals  now — should  send  right 
home  to  know  what  to  do  with  us — wanted  to  bo  len- 
ient, but  great  rascals — had  already  been  punished 
hard — but  musn't  grumble,  wo  deserved  it — hoped 
it  had  made  us  better  and  meeker — should  be  thank- 
ful our  lives  wore  spared — must  expect  to  get  har<l 
punishment — such  awful  crimes — such  ])ad  men — 
Yankees  were  all  bad  men. 

Turning  to  the  olliccrs  of  the  ship,  he  inquire! 
what  had  been  the  nature  of  our  conduct — expecting, 
no  doubt,  an  answer  that  would  have  given  him  more 
occasion  to  wheeze  out  hi.s  disconr^  cted  invective. 
The  olhccrs  replied  that  we  had  notcnused  the  slight- 
est trouble,  but  had  been  well  behaved  men.  Thf 
•*  ohi  granny,"   as  he  was  there  universally  called. 


- 


STATION. 


e^ 


put  u^ 
1  send 
0  with 
ihaved 

any  of 

rebels, 

it  on  : 

e  than 

stirred 

al  sub- 

J — liad 

ncnt — 

glad  to 

ut  that 

d  riglit 

bo  len- 

unished 

—hoped 

!  thank- 

et  hard 

men — 

nquired 
pectin  g, 
immoio 
vectivo. 
e  slight- 
i.  Th»' 
'  called. 


forced  out  a  few  more  sentences  of  the  same  sort  as 
given.  The  doctor,  who  had  come  to  feel  really  a 
strong  interest  in  our  favor,  and  who  had  promised 
to  speak  to  the  Governor  in  our  behalf,  and  induce 
him  to  grant  us  an  easy  time  of  it,  here  interposed, 
in  one  of  the  sublimcst  periods  of  that  eloquent  ora- 
tion, a  few  words  in  our  favor.  Sir  John,  seeing  the 
import  of  the  doctor's  remarks,  waived  his  hand,  cry- 
ing out,  "That'll  do  ;  that'll  do!"  and  turning  to  us, 
went  on  :  "  Be  good  men,  be  good  men — govern- 
ment good  to  you,  give  you  fme  clothing,  many  good 
things — be  thankful  then — her  gracious  majesty  very 
kind — be  good  men — hav^  much  indulgence,"  etc., 
etc. 

This  tremendous  effort  caused  the  old  man  such  a 
wonderful  amount  of  puffing  that  he  seemed  really 
exhausted.  Some  one  of  the  old  hands  in  our  rear 
remarked  that  the  old  sinner  would  require  as  many 
as  two  sheep  for  his  diimer,  so  great  was  his  exhaus- 
tion.     '  - 

Turning  to  the  four  men  I  have  before  spoken  of 
as  suspected  spies.  Sir  John  inquired,  "  What  men 
are  these?"  Gunn,  the  chief  superintendent  of  the 
district,  replied,  "Four  men  from  Canada,  three  of 
'^hom  were  sent  out  for  murder,  and  one  for  deser- 
tion, your  Excellency."  To  which  his  "excellency" 
replied,  "Ah  !  nearly  as  bad  as  rebellion  !  Will  you 
r-ead  their  warrants?"  They  were  read.  The  three 
for  murder  were  sent  out  for  life,  the  one  for  deser- 
tion, fourteen  years. 


fh 


64 


SANDi    BAY 


I     I 


Thus  it  appeared  vvc  had  been  brought  there  not 
only  against  our  wills,  but  even  against  law  and  jus- 
tice ;  and  now,  not  having  any  thing  to  show  whereof 
we  were  charged,  or  for  what  we  were  there,  were 
placing  us  in  the  position  of  the  most  vagabond  crea- 
tures, that  were  expiating  their  crimes  of  deepest 
guilt — till  they  could  send  liome  to  know  what  should 
be  done  with  us  I  Verilv,  if  such  conduct  was  not 
enough  to  fire  the  bosom  of  any  man  not  dead  to  hu- 
man feeling,  till  it  were  roused  to  vengeance,  I  know 
not  what  would.  I  do  not  suppose  that  one  who  nev- 
er saw  the  iron  lieel  of  sucli  infsrnal  oppression  grind- 
ing the  very  soul  into  the  deptlis  of  degradation,  can 
feel  it  as  we  have  felt  it.  But  they  who  have  sym- 
pathy—and f  know  there  are  many  of  them — must 
feel  a  strong  spirit  of  indignation  stirring  their  hearts. 
Although  we  were  led,  by  the  nature  of  some  portion 
of  the  remarks,  to  believe  we  were  to  have  it  easier, 
at  least  till  something  was  heard  from  the  home  gov- 
ernmeht  concerning  our  disposition,  the  reader  will 
see  in  ti.o  sequel  how  those  hopes  were  cruelly  blast- 
ed. But  for  my  part,  I  could  not  comprehend  what 
right  they  had  to  keep  us  in  confinement,  much  less 
10  subject  us  to  punishment.  But  I  had  learned  from 
my  unjust  sutferings  thus  far,  that  we  need  not  look 
or  even  hope  for  sympathy  from  the  power  tliat  had 
us  in  its  clutches.  Of  the  nature  of  the  thoughts  that 
crowded  my  mind  and  quite  choked  my  utterance, 
the  reader  may  strive  to  imagine,  though  he  cannot 
picture  their  intensity. 


STATION'. 


Zi.) 


Si^eane,  the  Station  superiiueiultjnt,  asked  lue  go  • 
ernor  whether  he  should  take  us  out  on  the  road  thai 
afternoon.  "  Certainly,  certainly  ;  do  them  ^/y.n'' : 
they've  had  a  long  voyage,  and  the  walk  will  c^' 
them  good,  though  they  dont  work  much."  Wlieti 
the  officers  and  the  doctor  of  the  ship  withdrew,  we 
could  plainly  see  their  sympathies  were  much  moved 
for  our  situation.  But  what  could  they  do  ?  They 
had  been  unwilling  instruments,  no  doubt,  in  bring- 
ing us  to  this  doom,  and  had  thought,  probably,  we 
should  be  treated  in  some  measure  like  human  be- 
ings. The  doctor,  particularly,  expressed  much 
compassion — by  his  manner  more  than  his  words — 
for  probably  he  dared  not  unburthcn  all  he  felt. 
Shaking  us  by  the  hand,  as  he  bade  each  farewell, 
he  whispered — "  Poor  fellows,  I  am  sorry  you  have 
fell  into  such  cruel  hands,  when  you  have  suffered  so 
greatly.  I  am  afraid  you  will  never  see  the  green 
tields  of  your  native  land  again  ;  but  bear  it  as  man- 
fully as  you  can,  and  God  bless  you."  His  utter- 
ance was  choked,  and  he  followed  his  tmraaes  with 
his  eyes  gushing  over  with  sympathy.  Oh,  it  was 
good  to  meet  with  any  one  who  seemed  to  '\'el  for 
>)ur  situation.  Yes,  those  few  words  of  consolatior. 
fell  on  our  hearts  like  rain  drops  on  the  parched  soil 
— and  we  could  but  ejaculate,  "God  bless  thee  too. 
doctor." 

Our  visitors  were  all  gone  and  the  gates  closed, 
when  we  were  ordered  again  to  the  huts  for  dinner. 
A  tin  pint  cup  and  a  tin  plate  had  been  previous)} 


'■^\ 


-■J 


80 


BANDY    II  AY 


S     . 


distributed  to  each  of  us,  numbered.  The  huts  were 
also  numbered,  and  a  roll  thereof,  with  the  number 
of  men  in  eaeh,  given  to  the  cook.  For  each  liut 
was  a  kidd,  alrso  nivmbored.  W  lien  nienl  time  arrived, 
the  cook  filled  each  kidd  with  the  rations  for  the  cor- 
responding hut.  At  the  signal,  one  from  each  hut 
approached  and  bore  away  his  kidd  to  distribute  its 
contents  among  his  companions.  W  hilst  we  were 
at  our  meal  an  overseer  came  round  and  bade  ua 
hurry,  as  we  should  take  a  short  walk  for  our  health. 
Having  mustered  us,  he  remarked,  "  We'll  go  out 
and  look  at  the  roads.  Tis  indeed  a  fine  country  ; 
I  believe  you  will  like  it  better  than  America.  Wo 
have  very  fsne  roads,  though  they  are  not  yet  all 
linished."  There  were  several  so  weak  they  re- 
mained behind.  On  repairing  to  their  quarters,  tho 
muster  man  gave  them  the  comfortable  assurance 
that  the  station  doctor  would  be  there  presently,  and 
if  they  were  not  sirk  they  would  be  severely  pun- 
ished. Still  there  were  several  who  did  not  go,  and 
though  nearly  all  of  us  felt  too  enfeebled  for  much 
exercise,  yet  the  overseer  appeared  so  flattering  and 
'withall  was  so  apparently  pleasant,  tliat  we  thought 
a  little  exercise  might  dc  us  no  harm  :  accordingly 
we  went  along  with  the  more  alacrity,  accompanied 
by  some  eight  or  ten  constables  and  overseers. 

Our  "walk"  extended  a  mile,  and  was  difficult 
from  the  trouble  we  experienced  in  keeping  upright. 
When  arrived  at  the  end,  we  were  bade  to  take  the 
tools  and  exercise  ourselves  somewhat.      We  had 


STATION'. 


87 


hardly  expected  tiu55 ;  but  we  were  permitted  to  take 
it  very  leisurely  that  afternoon,  and,  in  fact,  for  two 
or  three  days.  In  our  weak  eondition,  the  travelling 
was  about  all  we  could  do.  Our  implements  were 
the  shovel,  pick-axe,  and  wheelbarrow.  At  sundown 
we  were  allowed  to  return,  greatly  fatigued.  The 
third  day  carts  made  their  appearance,  which  were 
quite  large  to  be  propelled  by  human  muscles — the 
bodies  measuring  six  feet  in  length,  two  in  depth,  and 
four  and  a  half  in  breadth,  with  the  other  parts  to 
correspond.  To  each  cart  were  attached  four  men. 
These  men  had  leathern  collars,  passing  over  one 
shoulder  and  imdor  the  other,  to  which  were  fastened 
hooks,  that  rniglit  be  attached  to  the  tongue  for  the 
purpose  of  pulling.  Near  the  extremity  of  the  tongue 
were  two  cross-bars  against  which  the  "team"  could 
push. 

When  the  carts  made  their  appearance,  1  was 
taken  from  the  shovel  and  placed  in  one  of  the 
''teams."  Though  the  change  was  for  harder  work, 
yet  I  was  heartily  glad,  for  my  hands  were  so  sore, 
that  1  could  scarcely  use  them.  This  was  the  case 
with  all  our  men.  Tliey  had  been  so  long  and  so 
closely  confjiied,  and  were  so  enfeebled,  that  their 
hands  were  almost  as  tender  as  those  of  an  infant. 
The  consequence  was,  that  being  compelled  to  labor 
with  those  rough,  lieavy  tools — for  convi  tsare  ever 
furnished  with  the  poorest  kind — tlic  liands  blistered, 
and  the  skin  peeled  away,  leaving  in  many  instances 
a  good  share  of  the  hand  raw.     I  remember  partic- 


r.|i 


-^8 


SANDY    UAY 


iilarly  the  case  of  Orrin  W.  Smith,  who  was  a  single 
man  of  considerable  property  in  the  States.  He  had 
never  been  bred  to  manual  labor — was  small  of  stat- 
ure, and  naturally  of  a  delicate  constitution.  His 
hands  were  more  tender  than  most  of  the  others,  and 
when  he  was  forced  to  swing  the  heavy  pick,  it  came 
sorely  upon  him.  His  hands  blistered  so  that  the 
skin  peeled  from  the  whole  palm  and  inner  surface 
of  the  fmgers,  and  even  between  the  fingers.  And 
still  ho  was  compelled  to  work  on  without  scarcely  a 
cessation,  leaving  the  very  flesh  upon  the  handle  of 
his  pick.  The  pick  itself  was  too  large  for  even  a 
robust  man  of  his  size.  Passing  him  one  day  with 
our  cart  and  seeing  him  thus  toiling,  the  blood  trick- 
ling from  his  raw  hands — I  said  to  him,  "Ah,  Smith, 
you  have  a  hard  time  of  it."  "Oh,  my  God!  Gates, 
1  can  never  stand  this!"  he  almost  shrieked,  as  he 
sank  exhausted  on  the  ground. 

As  the  days  increased  in  number,  so  were  our 
tasks  increased  in  amount,  till  we  were  compelled  to 
do  what  their  tyrrany  demanded.  The  superintend- 
ent of  the  station  frequently  came  round,  and  when 
there  was  not  so  much  done  as  he  fancied  should  be, 
he  would  spur  up  the  overseer,  and  Hewit,  the  over- 
seer, would  spur  up  the  men  most  cruelly.  The 
second  or  third  day  the  superintendant  Skeane  thus 
came  along.  Says  he,  "  How  is  it,  Hewit,  that  you 
don't  get  along  faster  ?•"  Hewit  replied,  "Some  of 
'  k,  and  the  others  are  not  strong  yet." 
Skeane,  "Pllse 


men 


says 


up  the  doctoi 


looki 
can  b 
can  I: 
feels  ( 
few  q 
get  all 
pills  a 
versal 
Soi 
lift  a  il 
The  fc 
to  us  ij 
petty  s 
perior 
him  tli; 
loork 
don't 
fault  a 
fast  as 
too. 
be  prif 
and  wc 
do;  I 
can  W( 
^vork 
regard 
(.lone 
jirice 
leeblec 
hard,  n 


STATION. 


80 


look  into  the  matter.  1  believe  that  your  company 
can  be  added  to  a  little" — meaning  that  more  labor 
can  be  forced  from  them.  Well,  the  d(Jctor  comes, 
feels  of  the  pulse,  looks  into  the  mouth,  asks  a  very 
few  questions,  turns  on  his  heel  with  a  "Humph! 
get  along  well  enough — not  much  sick  ;  take  a  few 
pills  and  go  to  work  again."  Buch  was  almost  uni- 
versally the  case. 

So  long  as  we  could  possibly  crawl  about,  or  could 
hfta  finger,  we  were  brutally  compelled  to  the  ta^k. 
The  fourth  day  the  overseer  began  to  lay  the  work 
to  us  in  good  earnest.  He  was  anxious  to  hold  his 
petty  situation,  and  therefore  strove  to  please  his  su- 
perior tyrants.  So,  almost  the  first  greeting  from 
him  that  morning,  was — "Come,  we  must  have  some 
ivork  done  to-day.  The  superintendent  says  we 
don't  make  much  progress  here,  and  ho  is  finding 
fault  at  the  delay.  The  governor  wants  it  done  as 
fast  as  possible,  and  the  gentlemen  are  compkuning 
too.  The  principal  superintendent  thinks  ;f'ou  woi.t 
be  prisoners  long.  He  is  coming  out  this  way  soon, 
and  we  must  see  how  much  wo  can  got  done.  'Twont 
do ;  I  shall  lose  my  place.  The  doctor  says  you 
can  work,  and  work  you  must."  And,  accordingly, 
work  we  had  to.  We  were  put  to  labor  without  any 
regard  to  our  several  capabilities.  Whatever  was 
done  seemed  to  be  done  by  mere  accident,  or  as  ca- 
price dictated.  It  mattered  not  how  weak  and  en- 
feebled one  was,  he  was  compelled  to  work  just  as 
hard,  il'  he  did  not  do  as  much,  as  the  most  stalwart 


fii' 


90 


PANDY    BAY 


of  the  company.  Though  a  number  of  our  gang 
were  really  too  unwell  to  labor,  and  might  perhaps 
have  succeeded  iu  staying  behind,  yet  tliey  chose  to 
follow  us  to  the  roads,  rather  than  to  stay  alone  in 
the  miserable  huts,  that  always  swarmed  with  fleas 
and  lice — subject  to  tho  grossest  and  most  insolent 
abuse  of  the  lackeys  and  menials  that  infested  every 
station.  The  company  of  friends  nnd  of  old  com- 
panions was  sweet  indeed,  though  those  friends  were 
toiling  in  pain  and  misery,  and  though  to  be  with 
them,  they  too  must  toil  in  yet  greater  misery.  It 
was  thus  that  the  pleasure  ofsym])athy  overcame  the 
will ;  and  he  who  in  other  circumstances  would  have 
been  an  invalid,  confined  to  his  room,  if  not  to  his 
bed,  crawled  to  his  daily  work  and  reeled  under  the 
task,  which  was,  if  possible,  more  onerous,  more 
grievous,  than  that  wherewith  Pharao  tasked  the  poor 
children  of  Israel. 

It  was  on  Friday  afternoon,  th(^  fifth  day,  thatLy- 
sander  Curtis,  who  had  been  sick  for  several  weeks, 
gave  out.  Ho  was  engaged  wheeling  dirt  with  a 
barrow,  when  he  remarked  to  some  one  near  him 
that  he  felt  himself  failing  fnst — so  fast  indeed,  that 
he  could  not  stand  it  much  longer.  He  was  advised 
to  speak  for  permission  to  stop,  but  answered  it  was 
of  no  use  to  ask  such  a  brute.  At  lengtli,  feeling 
still  worse,  he  ventured  the  request — whi^'h  was  re- 
plied to  with  the  cold  assurance  that,  as  the  doctor  had 
declared  him  able  to  work,  work  he  must,  whether  he 
lived  or  died  by  it.     Some  of  liis  comrades  expostu- 


lated } 
down 
dered ' 
the  gr 
He  sto 
lie  reo] 
rise, 
coat  be 
ry  him 
tliem,  s 
will   stj 
ALd  th. 
when  h 
of  the  *' 
His  bur 
he  lay 
dark  col 
days  W( 
without! 
we  imp 
send  fo| 
cold  he 
ministei 
cr,  and! 
the  effd 
ininglii 
the  nig^ 
with  its 
was  hei 
try  wh( 


■\ 


STATION. 


01 


rhaps 

)SC  to 

lie  in 

fleas 
solcnt 
every 

com- 
i  were 

witli 

.  It 
me  the 
tl  have 
to  hi^< 
:ler  tlie 
,  more 
he  poor 

UatLy- 
weeks, 
with  a 
jar  him 
0(1,  that 
advised 
d  it  was 
feehng 
was  re- 
ctor had 
ether  he 
expostu- 


lated with  Hewit,  but  with  the  only  efTect  of  calling 
down  the  choicest  abuse  of  his  overseership,  who  or- 
dered Curtis  with  an  oath  to  wheel  on.  It  was  with 
llie  greatest  difficulty  the  poor  victim  could  move, 
lie  stood  it  but  a  short  time  ;  his  sight  grew  dim — 
lie  reeled  and  fell  on  his  barrow — unable  again  to 
rise.  Ilis  comrades  laid  him  on  the  grass,  with  his 
coat  beneath  him,  and  then  asked  permission  to  car- 
ry him  to  the  station.  The  inhuman  brute  denied 
them,  saying  with  a  great  and  an  angry  oath,  "He 
will  stand  it  well  enough  till  the  gang  tuiar^  in.'* 
Ai-d  there  he  had  to  lay,  uncared  for,  till  at  dusk, 
when  he  was  placed  in  the  cart  of  which  I  was  one 
of  the  "team,"  and  then  taken  with  us  to  the  station. 
His  bunk  was  in  the  same  hut  as  my  own — and  there 
he  lay  on  the  hard  boards  in  his  miseiy,  through  the 
(lark  cold  night,  (the  nights  were  cold,  though  the 
days  were  warm,)  in  that  damp,  unwholesome  place, 
without  a  spark  of  fire  or  gleam  of  light ;  and  though 
we  importuned  the  superintendent  and  the  clerk  to 
send  for  the  doctor,  who  lived  at  another  station,  the 
cold  hearted  wretches  refused  to  stir  a  finger.  We 
ministered  to  his  comfort  by  all  that  was  in  our  pow- 
er, and  yet  that  comfort  was  only  our  sympathy,  and 
the  effort  to  make  his  last  moments  cheerful,  by 
mingling  car  compassions.  Several  times  during 
the  night  we  thought  him  dying.  The  morning  came 
with  its  few  first  faint  streaks.  Soon  after  the  bell 
was  heard  rousing  us  for  our  daily  task.  The  sen- 
try who  stood  guard  outside  the  huts  unlocked  tho 


f- 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


4 


1.0 


I.I 


12.8 


|25 


^  I2£ 


■"  ■•)/. 
u  B4 


|2j2 

1.8 


1.25   ||.4    ||.6 

^ 

6"     

► 

V] 


Vl 


^;. 


7 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


\ 


SJ 


'^^ 


4> 


O^ 


'^''"^^Jif 


k^ 


«!• 


V, 


92 


SANDY    BAY 


)  ! 


door,  peeped  in  his  head,  and  cried  out,  "  How  is  that 
sick  one  getting  along  ?"  Being  told  he  was  but  just 
alive,  "Oh,  never  mind,"  says  he,  "one  dead  man 
is  nothing.  I  suppose  he'll  have  to  otay  behind  to- 
day, but  never  mind ;  get  ready  for  your  skilly." 
There  was  but  a  short  time  before  muster,  and  we  all 
employed  it  in  bidding  the  poor  fellow  farewell.  He 
was  too  feeble  to  say  much.  Speaking  of  Canada, 
he  said,  "  How  I  wish  she  was  free  from  England 
and  her  tyrants — and  I  would  to  God  that  we  were  all 
out  of  their  hands  ;  but,  thanks  be  to  the  Lord,"  he 
exclaimed,  as  he  feebly  grasped  our  hands  to  bid  us 
good  bye,  "  I  soon  shall  be  beyond  their  power.  God 
bless  you  all !  I  shall  never  see  you  again  this  side  of 
Heaven.  Oh !  how  glad  I  am  that  I  am  going;  and 
if  you  ever  see  my  wife  and  children,  oh !  tell  them 
I  die  happy — sweetly  resting  in  the  arms  of  Jesus. 
May  God  protect  them  !"  These  words  and  a  few 
others  were  spoken  in  broken  sentences,  and  before 
the  last  was  finished,  we  were  called  away  to  mus- 
ter. By  this  time  the  doctor  had  come,  and  seeing 
his  case  was  indeed  a  desperate  one,  our  '"team" 
were  ordered  to  take  him  in  the  cart  to  Hobart  town. 
To  us  it  was  a  cheerful  task.  He  grew  weaker  and 
fainter  till  we  arrived  at  the  hospital,  within  whose 
walls  wo  bore  him  in  our  arms,  and  received  his 
faintly  whispered  "farewell."  We  then  had  to  re- 
turn immediately.  Some  of  us  asked  permission  to 
visit  him  from  the  station,  but  were  flatlv  refused. 
We  learned  soon  after  that  he  died  the  succeeding 


STATION. 


93 


;r 


earn 
own. 
and 
ivhose 
d  his 
to  re- 
lon  to 
fused, 
jeding 


day.  And  wo  envied  the  poor  fellow's  fortune,  for 
Death  brought  a  reprieve  for  his  woes,  and  snatched 
him  from  the  iron  hearted  tyrants  that  were  fattening 
on  our  toil  and  blood  and  our  very  heart's  agony. 

The  next  day  being  Sabbath,  we  hoped  for  some 
respite.  We  flattered  ourselves  we  should  have  at 
least  one  day  of  rest.  But  how  sadly  disappointed  ! 
Though  we  were  not  compelled  to  work,  yet  what 
we  were  forced  to  do  ground  the  spirit  even  more 
grievously.      -■'  :        ■   •  r.i>','- •;■-''■      >:'•'•, 

At  a  little  later  hour  than  usual,  we  were  mustered 
out,  formed  into  double  rank,  and  marched  with  the 
most  soldier-like  precision  to  the  convict's  church  at 
Hobart  town,  to  hear  the  detested  ritual  of  the  Church 
of  England.  Many  spectators  came  from  curiosity 
to  see  the  "Yankee  rebels,"  and  we  were  continually 
insulted  with  jeers  and  abuse,  not  only  by  the  road 
side,  but  even  in  the  very  sanctuary(I) — if  such  a 
place  can  be  called  a  sanctuary.  Dressed,  too,  in 
our  full  convict's  suit,  we  were  considered  the  law- 
ful butt  of  every  vagabond  loafer,  or  high  bred  gen- 
tleman, that  chanced  to  meet  us.  Our  American 
blood  boiled  in  our  veins,  and  could  we  have  had  pos- 
session of  our  rifles,  with  a  sufficient  supply  of  am- 
munition, we  felt  as  though  we  should  have  raised  a 
"rebellion"  that  would  have  blanched  the  faces  of 
many  a  dastardly  coward,  and  shown  the  base  ty- 
rants that  we  were  men  who  knew  our  rights,  and 
knowing  them,  would  stand  by  them  even  to  the 
death.     Yes,  we  felt  this,  though  sober  faced  thought 


li' 


iii 


i!' 


2'^   I'iji 


94 


SANDY    BAY 


I'     I 


would  have  cried  out  upon  the  folly  of  it,  when  such 
a  pitiful  handful  could  so  easily  be  crushed  by  the 
giant  wrong  that  was  swayed  by  her  majesty's  Gov- 
ernment. 

But  there  we  were,  helpless,  and  forced  to  submit 
to  it  all,  and  compelled  to  endure  the  purgatory  of  two 
and  three  long  doleful  hours — rising,  kneeling,  and 
sitting,  according  to  the  most  precise  formula,  all  the 
while  holding  our  faces  as  grave  as  an  owl,  and  for 
all  the  world  looking  perhaps,  about  as  wise.  This 
done,  we  were  marched  to  the  station,  and  back  again 
to  endure  an  afternoon  purgatory  of  increased  mis- 
ery. Thus  had  we  to  submit  to  those  above  us,  and 
sit  under  the  ministrations  of  Parson  Bedford. 

Like  the  greater  portion  of  her  majesty's  hirelings, 
Bedford  loved  the  bottle  more  than  the  Lord.  In  fact 
the  only  god  or  gods  he  really  served  were  Bacchus 
and  Mammon.  Scarcely  a  service  passed,  especially 
in  the  afternoon,  but  he  was  so  intoxicated  that  he 
could  not  travel  correctly ;  and  whilst  going  through 
the  ceremonies,  as  he  passed  from  one  position  to 
another,  he  would  be  obliged  to  cling  to  the  railing 
to  keep  uprightly  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  !  And 
such  was  the  man  who  would  instruct  us  in  the  way 
of  life  eternal !  It  may  be  well  imagined  that  his 
teachings,  which  were  but  the  repetition  of  a  styreo- 
typed  service,  that  in  itself  was  as  heartless  and  de- 
void of  devotion  as  the  soul  of  its  ministrator,  parson 
Bedford,  made  no  other  impressions  on  our  minds 
than  those  of  hatred  and  disgust.     We  heartily  be- 


STATION. 


95 


lieved  the  old  man  as  great  a  reprobate  as  the  veriest 
vagabond  that  ever  was  forced  to  listen  to  his  voice. 
At  one  time  he  was  chosen  to  examine  a  gallows, 
and  report  whether  eleven  fellow  beings  could  be 
hung  upon  it  at  one  time.  The  old  man  went,  and 
after  a  due  inspection,  reported,  that  "  Ten  men  of 
ordinary  size  could  hang  comfortahly^  but  eleven 
would  be  rather  crowded!"  Accordingly  the  ten 
were  hung,  and  the  same  drop  ushered  them  alike 
to  the  unknown  future.  He  afterward,  and  before  I 
left  the  island,  died — died  as  the  fool  dieth. 

Our  work  continued  without  abatement.  Our  tyr- 
ranical  taskmasters  seemed  to  delight  in  making  us 
as  miserable  as  possible.  We  were  treated  worse 
than  the  slaves  of  a  despot.  If  we  demurred  at  our 
overburdens,  the  only  consolation  we  could  get  was 
the  comfortable  assurance  of  a  lodgment  in  the  cells, 
or  the  pleasure  of  a  flagellation  with  the  cat  o'  nine 
tails.  .,    .     ;  .      . 

We  had  agreed  among  ourselves,  that  if  any  of 
our  number  were  taken  up  to  be  flogged,  as  we  had 
seen  some  of  the  old  hands,  we  would  to  a  man  re- 
sist, though  death  should  be  the  result.  We  were 
fully  determined  not  to  submit  to  such  inhuman  bar- 
barity. Not  long  afterward,  our  carts  were  so  heav- 
ily loaded  that  it  was  impossible  for  men  in  our  situ- 
ation to  draw  them.  We  remonstrated.  He  wit 
swore  we  should  draw  them,  or  else  be  flogged.  We 
gave  him  to  understand  that  we  should  not  submit  to 
the  treatment.     Being  asked  our  reason,  we  told  hira 


\\'<f 


\\ 


i 


P'V 


96 


SANDY    BAY 


fi'l 


'■ 


i; 


H' 


it  was  impossible  to  do  what  he  demanded  ;  and  thai 
besides  we  had  been  striving  to  do  all  that  we  could 
to  keep  from  trouble,  whilst  they  seemed  to  be  doing 
what  they  could  to  get  us  into  punishment — and  if  it 
was  to  come  to  that,  it  might  as  well  be  one  time  as 
another.  "  What,  then,  will  you  do  ?"  asked  Hewit. 
"Resist  to  a  man,  even  to  the  death,"  we  repHed. 
"Just  say  you  wont  draw  those  carts,"  cried  Hewit, 
with  a  demoniac  expression  of  countenance.  Now, 
he  wanted  we  should  flatly  refuse,  in  which  case  he 
could  complain  of  us  to  the  magistrate  for  disobedi- 
ence of  orders,  from  whom  it  is  indeed  rare  that  the 
poor  prisoner  ever  gets  even  a  shadow  of  justice. 
At  last,  after  several  ineffectual  attempts  to  move  the 
carts,  our  men  were  compelled  to  say  they  could  not 
draw  the  loads  and  they  would  not  draw  them. 
"That'll  do,  that'll  do;  here,  constables,  take  care 
of  these  men  ;"  and  eleven  of  the  gang  were  on  their 
way  to  the  watch  house,  where  they  lay  twenty-four 
hours,  when  they  were  brought  before  the  magistrate. 
Hewit  was  the  only  witness.  Putting  on  a  deal  of 
magisterial  dignity,  his  honor  questions  "Tom" — 
"  What  is  the  matter  with  these  men  ?"  "Oh,  your 
honor,  they  disobey  orders — won't  work  and  are 
saucy."  "Ah!  refuse  to  work,  eh?"  Some  of  the 
prisoners  interposed  to  give  their  side  of  the  story — 
but  his  honor,  with  a  frown,  cries  out,  "That's  enough; 
you  prisoners  always  plead  'not  guilty.'  Mr.  Hewit 
I  know  to  be  a  good  overseer,  and  you  ought  to  be 
severely  punished.     But  as  this  is  the  first  complaint 


STATION. 


m 


nd  thai 
I  could 
5  doing 
lid  if  it 
me  as 
tiewit. 
eplied. 
Hewit, 

Now, 
ase  he 
sobedi- 
lat  the 
justice. 
3ve  the 
uld  not 

them. 
le  care 
)n  their 
ty-four 
istrate. 
deal  of 
om" — 
1,  your 
md  are 
3  of the 
itory— 
iiough; 

Hewit 
it  to  be 
Tiplaint 


against  you,  I'll  punish  you  lightly — only  give  you 
seven  days  solitary  in  the  cells  ;"  and  away  they 
were  hustled  to  the  cells.  Such  is  a  fair  specimen 
of  the  dispensation  of  justice  in  its  mildest  forms  to 
the  poor  convict. 

But  how  light  the  solitary  punishment  was,  the  rea- 
der may  judge,  when  he  is  told  the  cell  is  a  solid  stone 
structure,  six  feet  by  four  feet,  and  six  feet  in  height, 
with  a  stone  floor,  the  roof  over-arched  with  stones, 
and  without  the  least  ray  of  light  or  the  smallest  par- 
ticle of  fire.  In  this  the  culprit  is  kept  locked,  with 
only  one  solitary  blanket,  and  a  pound  of  bread  and 
a  pint  of  water  a  day  till  his  sentence  expires,  when 
he  is  immediately  placed  again  at  work.  Every  sta- 
tion has  its  cells  as  well  as  triangles — which  are  for 
the  purpose  of  flagellation.  These  triangles  are  built 
of  strong  scantling  ;  they  are  about  ten  feet  square 
at  the  bottom,  and  secured  to  the  ground  by  strong 
pins.  From  each  oi  the  four  corners  of  this  frame, 
posts  rise  to  a  point  in  the  centre.  Parallel,  horizon- 
tal bars  are  fastened  to  these  posts,  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  the  person  to  be  flogged — who  is  stripped, 
often  stark  naked,  and  always  naked  to  his  waist,  and 
tied  upon  the  outside  of  this  frame,  at  the  feet,  knees 
and  outstretched  arms,  so  strongly  that  he  cannot 
break  loose.  Thus  have  I  seen  eight  or  ten  fastened 
at  once  and  flogged.  Persons  termed  flagellators 
are  appointed  expressly  for  this  purpose,  who  are 
usually  prisoners  or  ticket  of  leave  men,  and  always 

stout,  robust  men.       There  are  also  three  hangmen 

7 


.!:! 


•    t 


'  ■  t-i 


1:'  !  M 

■  t       .-    i 
■•ill 


t 


m 


08 


SANDY    BAT 


'>M 


to  the  island,  and  as  many  places  of  execution,  viz  ; 
at  Hobart  town,  at  Launceston,  and  at  Oatland,  about 
halfway  between.  These  had  their  victims  almost 
weekly,  though  executions  were  not  as  frequent  as 
formerly. 

Though  it  was  a  relief  at  first  to  be  placed  on  the 
cart,  yet  the  labor  itself  was  the  severest  on  the  roads. 
Whether  the  loading  was  dirt  or  stone,  the  carts  were 
invariably  filled  full,  except  in  muddy  weather,  when 
the  loads  would  be  a  little  lightened,  but  not  in  cor- 
responding ratio.  Ten  loads  drawn  a  mile  made  our 
daily  task,  which  therefore  made  a  travel  of  twenty 
miles,  half  of  which  was  steady  and  severe  pulling. 
If  we  came  to  a  hard  or  difficult  place,  we  were  not 
permitted  to  unload  the  le^ast  fragment,  but  must  pull 
and  tug  and  lift,  till  we  got  over  the  trouble. 

In  the  fore  part  of  the  third  week,  another  of  our 
number  was  accidentally  removed  from  his  woe  and 
misery.  It  was  William  Nottage,  who  was  engaged 
in  blasting,  and  while  tamping  a  charge  it  premature- 
ly ignited.  He  was  most  cruelly  mangled — the  rod 
passing  through  both  thighs,  which  were  broken — 
his  arms  shattered — ^his  eyes  blown  out,  and  his  face 
c>nd  breast  horribly  disfigured.  He  was  taken  to  the 
hospital,  where  he  lingered  but  for  a  short  time.  As  in 
the  case  of  Curtis,  so  now,  none  of  his  comrades  were 
allowed  to  visit  him.  About  this  time,  four  of  our 
number  "took  the  bush,"  as  fleeing  into  the  woods 
is  called.  It  is  seldom  indeed  that  one  succeeds  in 
eventually  escaping.     Probably  not  one  in  a  thous^ 


STATION. 


99 


and  does  it.  There  are  so  many  hirelings  on  the 
watch,  and  tlie  convict  is  so  readily  distinguished, 
that  it  is  quite  an  easy  matter  to  secure  him  again, 
when  he  has  lo  pay  the  forfeit  on  the  gallows,  or  in 
dragging  out  a  still  more  miserable  existence  in  some 
yet  more  degr  ided  situation.  These  four  evaded  a 
detection  for  <  fortnight,  when  they  were  taken,  tried 
for  abscond ini^,  and  sentenced  to  Port  Arthur  for  two 
years.  This  station  is  considered  the  very  worst  on 
the  whole  island. 

There  were  a  number  taken  in  the  first  troubles  in 
Canada  that  liad  been  previously  sent  out.  Of  these, 
Lynus  W.  Miller,  John  Grant,  James  Gamel  and 
Jacob  Bemer,  were  put  upon  the  roads,  and  the  oth- 
ers distributed  among  the  settlers.  Miller  and.  his 
comrades,  hearing  of  our  arrival,  requested  a  change 
to  our  station.  At  first  they  were  refused,  being  told 
that  our  company  wore  marked  for  hard  treatment. 
But  they  importuned  and  urged,  that  though  we  were 
to  receive  harder  usage,  they  would  rather  be  with 
their  countrymen  than  among  the  old  hands.  They 
were  permitted  to  join  us,  and  found  it  true  regarding 
the  greater  severity  of  our  treatment.  But  why  it 
was  so,  I  am  unable  to  answor,  unless  it  was  the  un- 
fortunate circumstance  of  being  Yankees.  From 
them  we  roceived  a  recountal  of  their  sufferings,  and 
in  returr  we  unfolded  them  ours.  Thus  time  wore 
on.  We  were  bowed  down  with  suffering.  Our 
rations  were  poor  and  miserable,  and  very  frequently 
not  more  than  half  the  allotted  allowance,     We  com- 


Ti 


100 


RANDY    BAV 


1     :,|l 


M^ 


plained  to  the  magistrates,  and  received  no  redress. 
We  exhibited  symptoms  of  disaffection — we  gave 
vent  frequently  to  our  curses.  Though  we  were  in 
the  hands  of  cruel  tyrants,  they  had  not  power  to  chain 
our  thoughts,  and  our  Yankee  spirits  were  not  so  far 
subdued  but  that  we  would  give  tongue  now  and  then 
to  those  thoughts.  We  were  continually  half  starved. 
We  rose  up  tormented  with  the  gnawings  of  hunger, 
we  worked  through  the  day  with  those  gnawings  un- 
satisfied, and  laid  down  at  night,  and  still  they  were 
unappeased.  Thus  it  was  at  this  station.  And  for 
the  two  long  years  I  was  on  the  roads,  not  a  day 
passed  but  1  was  in  this  hungry  condition.  //     •  - . 

In  the  latter  part  of  June,  a  Captain  of  an  Ameri- 
can whaler  called  to  see  us.  His  express  errand 
was,  to  give  us  a  chance  to  quit  the  country,  if  pos- 
sible. We  hailed  the  opportunity  with  joy  in  our 
hearts.  He  inquired  if  all  our  company  were  on  the 
road.  We  told  him  some  ten  or  a  dozen  were  at  the 
station.  He  then  wished  to  have  all  that  could  come 
out  the  next  day,  and  he  would  take  us  on  board  as 
he  passed  down  the  river.  Our  work  lay  quite  near 
the  river,  below  the  town.  The  shore  was  a  bold 
one.  The  cantain  had  five  or  six  good,  strong  boats. 
He  could  sail  quite  close  to  the  land,  send  the  boats 
ashore,  receive  us  all  on  board  at  once,  and  be  off 
before  the  alarm  could  be  spread,  and  cjt  of  danger 
ere  we  could  be  pursued.  Ah!  how  our  hearts 
leaped  then  with  delight !  Another  day,  and  we 
sliould  be  beyond  the  power  of  those  we  so  heartily 


!.. 


STATION. 


101 


dress. 

gave 
ero  in 
3  chain 
t  so  far 
id  then 
arved. 
unger, 
gs  un- 

were 

nd  for 

;  a  day 

A.meri- 

errand 

if  pos- 

in  our 

5  on  the 

3  at  the 

d  come 

ard  as 

te  near 

a  bold 

;  boats. 

5  boats 

be  off 

ianger 

hearts 

nd  we 

eartily 


hated  and  despised.  But  this  gleam  of  hope,  too, 
was  brief,  and  darkness  again  settled  over  our  pros- 
pects. The  overseer,  noticing  the  captain  in  conver- 
sation with  us,  mistrusted  we  were  plotting  an  escape, 
which,  so  near  the  harbor  and  in  sight  of  the  ship, 
we  might  efiect,  mustered  us  up  to  prepare  for  a  move. 
Thus  we  saw  the  cup  tliat  was  almost  to  our  lips 
dashed  rudely  to  the  earth,  and  we  compelled  to  thirst 
on  for  that  freedom  from  which  we  had  so  shamefully 
been  driven.  .  ,    .-■   ... 

Three  days'  rations  were  allowed  us,  which,  with 
our  cup  and  plate,  were  rolled  up  in  our  blankets, 
that  swarmed  with  fleas,  and  slung  over  our  backs. 
Escorted  by  a  company  of  soldiers  and  constables, 
we  were  started  for  some  place  toward  the  interior. 
We  were  told  that  our  destination  was  for  another 
part  of  the  road,  where  the  work  was  hghter  and  con- 
sequently easier,  and  where  we  should  enjoy  greater 
privileges.  But  we  knew  very  well  the  cause  of  our 
sudden  removal.  They  dared  not  let  us  remain 
there  longer,  lest  we  should  escape.  In  their  other 
flattering  assurances  we  put  no  confidence  whatever. 
We  afterward  learned  that  the  whaleman  sailed  as 
contemplated,  coasted  down  the  shore,  and  continued 
plying  about  the  vicinity  for  a  considerable  length  of 
time,  in  hopes  we  might  be  enabled  to  meet  him. 
Little,  probably,  did  he  imagine  that  we  .were  on  our 
route  in  another  direction.  lijj'j^gr*'     •     j 


? 


!Ji 


I        1 


111' 


bi 


i     ( 


CHAPTER     VI. 


,        LOVELY   BANKS    STATION.  , 

It  was  a  hard  travel  for  us  from  Sandy  Bay.  The 
road  was  exceedingly  muddy ;  a  nunil)er  of  our  men 
were  too  feeble  to  travel  at  all ;  the  thick,  clumsy 
shoes  chafed  our  feet  till  they  were  almost  raw,  when 
we  were  obliged  to  carry  them  in  our  hands,  whilst 
some  of  the  distance  the  road  had  been  newly  laid 
with  the  pounded  flint  stone,  which  with  their  sharp 
edges  made  our  suffering  feet  still  worse.  These 
things,  combined  as  they  were  with  otb.er  grievances, 
made  our  travel  a  jaunt  not  at  all  to  be  desired.  The 
first  day,  we  made  a  distance  of  only  ten  or  twelve 
miles,  stopping  at  a  station  where  were  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men,  with  whom  we  were  turned  in 
for  the  night.  Here  we  lost  a  share  of  our  rations, 
which  the  poor  hungry  fellows  stole  from  us.  I  could 
not  blame  them  much,  though  it  was  cruelty  to  us. 
In  the  morning  we  were  mustered  out  with  the  rest, 
to  witness  the  flagellation  of  four  men,  before  break- 
fast. It  is  universally  the  cas^,  that  when  a  man  is 
to  be  flogged  the  whole  gang  must  witness  it.        ».  v 

After  cooking  a  little  of  our  meat,  and  drinking 
our  akilly,  we  were  hurried  on.     If  any  o  *w  wearied 


LOVELY   BANKfl. 


108 


and  lagged  behind,  he  was  rudely  urged  '  rward,  as- 
sured there  was  a  watch  house  not  far  ahead,  where 
he  might  remain  on  bread  and  water  a  few  days  for  his 
comfort.  Before  night  a  few  gave  out  from  sheer  ex- 
haustion. That  night  we  remained  at  Bagdad,  which 
was  a  small  village,  of  two  or  three  stores,  a  tavern  or 
two,  a  large  watch  house,  and  a  range  of  prisoners* 
barracks.  Here  were  a  large  number  of  constables 
and  small  magistrates,  and  other  minions  of  oppress- 
ion. It  was  a  place,  too,  where  convicts  were  sent 
from  the  surrounding  stations  and  country  for  trial 
and  punishment,  and  of  course  the  implements  of 
cruelty  were  pretty  numerous,  and  quite  frequently 
used.  Here  we  cooked  and  ate  the  last  of  our  ra- 
tions, and  heard  the  same  list  of  names  called  over 
by  the  keeper  of  the  watch  house  which  started  with 
us  from  Fort  Henry,  and  which  had  continued  to 
haunt  us  like  a  spirit  of  evil  destiny ;  and  which,  so 
far  as  I  could  learn,  constituted  the  only  warrant  or 
sentence  we  ever  received.  After  answering  to  our 
names,  we  were  turned  in  among  the  prisoners,  some 
of  whom  had  lain  there  months,  and  were  more  foul 
and  filthy  even  than  we  had  yet  been  forced  to  be. 
As  a  consequence,  we  rested  that  night  in  agony-— 
if  such  an  anomaly  can  be — and  received  a  strong 
reinforcement  to  the  already  numerous  vermin  that 
infested  our  own  persons  and  blankets.    ■  ■  "'    '  » 

We  were  glad  when  we  left  Bagdad,  though  wo 
had  to  leave  without  a  morsel  of  food.  We  repre- 
sented our  case  to  thoso  who  had  us  in  charge,  telling 


f   :l 


V:     ,  li  ! 


104 


LOVELY  BANKS. 


Im 


i. 


m. 


them  that  our  rations  had  been  stolen.  But  it  made 
no  difference.  We  were  informed  that  we  had  had 
our  rations  for  three  '^lays,  and  whether  they  were 
stolen  or  not,  we  should  have  no  more  till  those  days 
were  fully  expired.  That  afternoon  we  arrived  at 
Lovely  Banks  station,  forty  or  more  miles  from 
Hobart  town.  Here,  we  were  informed,  we  should 
stop  for  the  present.  ' 

The  huts  at  this  station  were  built  of  stone.  They 
were  not  yet  quite  finished,  and  some  tenor  a  dozen 
billeted  men  were  at  work  upon  them.  Here  our 
work  lay  two  miles  fron.  the  station,  and  was  mostly 
in  the  rock.  Our  tasks  were  even  harder  than  at 
Sandy  Bay.  Our  loaded  carts  we  had  to  draw  two 
miles,  fiv  e  times  a  day.  At  early  dawn  we  were 
routed,  and  away  at  our  tasks  by  sunrise,  which  we 
wtre  not  allowed  to  quit  till  sundown,  when  we  were 
marched  back  in  double  file,  and  by  the  time  we  had 
our  pint  of  skilly,  it  would  be  long  after  dark,  when, 
to  cap  our  enjoyments,  we  would  be  forced  to  the 
huts  and  locked  in,  where  was  no  fire  nor  light,  nor 
any  convenience  .  hatever ;  cold,  shivering,  hungry, 
and  generally  wet  to  the  skin  with  the  chilly  rains 
that  fall  almost  daily  in  that  country  during  its  winter 
months.  ■,i,^^ 

5  Branberson,  the  superintendent,  King,  the  o ver- 
se* .r,  and  the  other  petty  officers,  were  even  more 
tyranical  than  those  we  had  just  left.  They  seemed 
to  delight  in  having  a  "down"  upon  some  one  or  more 
of  the  men.     The  meaning  of  this  term  is,  that  when 


LOVELY    BANK8. 


105 


any  of  the  men  have  done  any  thing  accidentally  or 
otherwise,  to  displease  the  superintendent  or  over- 
seer, and  which  is  not  sufficient  to  be  taken  cogni- 
zance A  by  a  magistrate — or  if  a  dislike  be  taken  to 
the  prisoner,  for  any  cause,  fancied  or  real — every 
method  is  taken  that  suggests  itself,  to  torment  and 
make  worse  their  or  his  situation.     It  is  the  meanest, 
most  devilish  sort  of  revenge  that  can  be  imagined. 
King,  the  overseer,  particularly  had  his  "downs"  up- 
on some  of  us  almost  continually,  and  many  of  our 
number  had  to  spend  weary  hours  in  the  cells,  for  no 
other  apparent  reason  than  they  should  feel  and 
know  they  were  in  his  power.     There  are  number- 
less ways  by  which  the  overseer  can  vent  his  spite 
on  his  victim — as,  compelling  him  to  do  with  a  poor 
tool  as  much  as  another  with  a  better  one — making 
his  task  heavier,  or  putting  him  into  muddy  places, 
or  into  the  worst  positions.     These  and  many  other 
means  are  resorted  to,  to  make  the  labor  of  some  one 
more  degrading,  more  onerous,  and  more  bitter  than 
that  of  another.     And  for  all  these  petty  annoyances 
there  was  no  relief.     If  the  victim  cried  out  againpt 
the  abuse,  or  refused  to  submit,  he  was  pretty  sure  to 
be  chucked  into  the  watch  house,  then  brought  before 
the  magistrates  to  receive  his  solitary  or  stripes  for 
disobedience  of  orders — the  very  thing  the  tyrants 
most  wanted.     If  the  convict  complained  to  the  mag- 
istrate, the  result  was  almost  universally  the  same. 
The  overseer  is  sure  to  be  found  there  too  with  his 
etory,  which  is  to  the  effect  that,  the  complainant  is 


■<;     i 


i  'W 


■:    > 


106 


LOV£LY  BANKS. 


i^ 


ii 


lazy,  slights  his  work,  is  insolent,  and  in  fact  one  who 
causes  the  greatest  trouble  of  any  in  the  gang.  Tom 
is  believed,  while  the  poor  fellow's  story  goes  for 
nothing,  unless  it  be  a  warrant  to  the  solitary  for  ten, 
fifteen  or  twenty  days,  or  to  the  triangle  for  thirty- 
six  or  more  lashes  ;  and  so  soon  as  the  punishment 
is  ended,  the  victim  is  returned  ^o  his  work  to  be  far- 
ther victimized,  with  the  abuse  and  insult  aggravated. 
"  See  what  you  get  by  complaining ;  guess  you'll 
be  trying  it  again!"  Such  were  the  words  of  con- 
solation. 

There  were  t^vo  of  the  men,  Marsh  and  White, 
that  Tom  King  had  an  extra  antipathy  against. 
They  had  both  worsted  him  before  the  magistrate, 
for  which  he  never  forgave  them.  They  had  before 
this  lost  something,  which  they  felt  pretty  well  as- 
sured was  stolen  by  the  billeted  men,  with  probably 
Tom's  connivance.  They  complained  of  it  to  Tom, 
and  charged  it  on  those  men,  which  incensed  him 
beyond  measure,  and  he  took  every  possible  occa- 
sion to  make  their  condition  as  irksome  and  degrad- 
ing as  possible. 

^  Marsh's  health  was  feeble  and  he  could  not  endure 
the  tasks.  He  was  daily  sinking  under  the  tyrrany 
Oi  the  overseer.  Therefore,  as  a  last  resort,  he  com- 
plained to  the  magistrate  who  was  then  at  the  station. 
Tom,  as  usual,  went  on  with  his  story.  But  Marsh's 
appearance  so  strongly  sustained  his  complaint  that 
the  doctor  was  called  to  examine  him,  who  reported 
to  the  magistrate  that  Marsh  was  unable  to  labor,  ez- 


/    i 


LOVELY    BANKS. 


107 


le  who 
Tom 
3es  for 
for  ten, 
thirty- 
shment 
be  far- 
avated. 
s  you'll 
of  con- 
White, 
against, 
gistrate, 
d  before 
well  as- 
)robably 
to  Tom, 
sed  him 
)le  occa- 
degrad- 

i endure 
tyrrany 
he  com- 
)  station. 
Marsh's 
aint  that 
reported 
ibor,  ex- 


cept at  the  very  lightest  work.  The  result  was,  that 
Tom  got  a  sharp  reprimand,  with  an  order  to  put 
the  complainant  only  on  the  very  lightest  work. — 
This  had  the  effect  to  lighten  his  burden  in  some 
measure  for  a  season  ;  yet  the  overseer  took  every 
opportunity  to  vent  his  spleen  in  little  pitiful  acts  of 
meanness.  ?  ?  -     '  « ,,  i» 

Wright  was  one  day  taken  sick  while  at  work, 
and  asked  permission  to  go  in  to  the  station,  which 
Tom  refused  to  grant.  The  man  was  in  great  pain, 
and  utterly  unable  to  work.  Still  he  was  ordered  to 
work  on.  It  was  a  rule,  that  if  a  man  felt  indisposed 
in  the  morning,  he  must  wait  on  the  assistant  doctor, 
who  frequently  resides  at  a  station,  and  is  generally 
a  convict  himself,  and  ask  his  permission  to  remain 
in.  If  the  assistant  concludes  he  is  sick,  he  gives 
him  a  permit  to  stay.  But  if  he  go  to  the  works  he 
must  remain  there  till  night,  no  matter  how  unwell 
he  may  be.  We  advised  Wright  to  go  tc  the  statioji, 
whether  King  would  give  his  consent  or  not.  He 
asked  permission  again,  but  received  only  curses  for 
his  answer.  He  went.  The  assistant  doctor  exam- 
ined him  and  declared  him  not  sick.  Branberson 
then  thrust  him  into  a  cell.  When  the  gang  returned 
to  the  station,  and  not  finding  Wright  in  his  hut,  we 
made  inquiry  for  him  and  learned  he  was  in  a  cell. 
We  represented  his  case  to  Branberson,  whom  we 
asked  to  release  and  place  him  in  the  hospital.  This 
was  refused  by  the  superintendent,  who  affirmed  he 
was  not  sick  l^ut  sulky.     We  replied,  we  knew  ho 


•  I'll 


t' 


II 


I  { 


'i  ; 


'      f  s 

••  "    V    ill 


'"H 


!i  '.{ 


.11  : 
•*  i  ii    I 


■  Mm 


,  I 


108 


LOVELY    BANKS. 


h\ 


he  was  dangerously  sick,  and  unless  he  immediately 
let  him  out,  we  should  be  under  the  necessity  of  at- 
tempting to  do  it  ourselves.  Branberson  saw  we 
were  in  earnest,  and  through  fear  acceded  to  our  de- 
mand ;  not,  howeve  r,  without  hoping  to  make  an  ex- 
ample of  us  before  the  magistrate.  The  magistrate 
and  doctor  having  come  and  inquired  into  the  matter 
and  ascertained  the  facts,  gave  the  superintendent, 
overseer  and  assistant  doctor,  a  severe  reprimand, 
telling  them  at  the  same  time,  they  might  be  indeed 
thankful  that  they  were  not  broke  of  their  offices. 
Wright  lay  in  the  hospital  nearly  six  weeks,  unable 
to  do  a  stroke  of  work.      •'  ^^^'^'■-  --^  /'<{;{>  !mvt©p/  u. 

Here  we  were  too  far  away  to  be  sent  to  church, 
accordingly  the  service  was  gone  through  with  by 
the  superintendent  in  the  open  yard. 

Our  clothing  was  distributed  twice  a  year,  and  was 
the  same  for  winter  as  for  summer.  If  it  did  not  last 
the  allotted  time,  or  was  stolen,  we  had  no  other  al- 
ternative than  to  go  without,  unless  the  compassion 
of  some  one  should  be  moved  in  our  favor,  which  in- 
deed was  very  seldom.  Many  of  our  number  were 
without  shoes,  and  underwent  very  much.  Some 
were  stolen,  others  worn  out.  My  own  proved  a 
worthless  pair  and  were  soon  gone.  The  bell  usu- 
ally rang  at  daylight  for  us  t3  rise,  dress  and  wash, 
which  done,  another  called  us  into  the  yard — with 
our  collars  unbuttoned  and  turned  down,  exposing 
our  necks  and  bosoms,  our  pantaloons  turned  up  to 
the  knees  and  our  shirt  sleeves  rolled  above  the  el* 


was 
ling! 
stab 


LOVELY  BANKS. 


109 


idiately 
y  of  at- 
saw  we 
our  de- 
e  an  ex- 
igistrate 
e  matter 
tendent, 
)rimand, 
B  indeed 
•  offices. 
5,  unable 

>  church, 
with  by 

,  and  was 
id  not  last 

other  al- 
mpassion 
which  in- 
ber  were 
.  .  Some 
proved  a 
I  bell  usu- 
3ind  wash, 
ard — with 

exposing 
'ned  up  to 
)ve  the  el- 


bows— where  we  stood  till  the  whole  company  were 
inspected.  During  the  winter  months  a  thick  frost 
usually  covered  the  ground  in  the  morning — and  to 
stand  there  in  the  chilling  atmosphere,  with  bare  feet 
on  the  frost,  one  may  judge  was  no  comfortable  bus- 
iness. Now  and  then  some  old  rag  would  be  given 
me,  which  I  would  wrap  about  my  feet  and  partially 
keep  them  from  the  ground  till  the  sun  was  up  and 
the  frost  melted.  For  six  weeks  I  endured  this  ex- 
posure. I  complained  to  the  overseer  and  superin- 
tendent without  avail.  I  thought  I  could  not  stand 
it,  and  quite  resolved  upon  the  desperate  alternative 
of  "taking  the  bush."  Darting  pains  shot  through 
my  limbs  ;  my  legs  were  lame  with  rheumatism  and 
my  feet  sore  with  travel  on  the  sharp  stones.  Once 
I  left  the  gang  and  went  a  distance  into  the  woods, 
but  returned  again  that  night.  I  told  some  of  my 
companions  I  was  determined  to  go,  for  I  could  but 
die,  and  that  were  better  than  such  lingering  tor- 
ment. But  they  reasoned  so  stoutly  against  it,  that 
for  the  while  I  abandoned  the  idea.  A  day  or  two 
afterward  the  magistrate,  whose  name  was  Cruik- 
shank,  visited  our  station.  He  was  of  a  more  com- 
peissionate  nature  than  any  we  had  yet  had  to  do 
with  at  the  stations.  I  laid  my  case  before  him. 
Turning  to  a  constable  that  stood  by,  he  asked  if 
there  were  any  shoes  in  the  store-house.  To  which 
was  replied,  none.  Taking  tw^  half-crowns  (ten  shil- 
lings) from  his  pocket,  he  handed  them  to  the  con- 
stables, with  orders  to  procure  me  a  pair  of  shoes 


';;i| 


>  ,i<l 


I  i  ^ 


no 


LOVELY    BANKS. 


;  is: 


i: 


It 


1 

■ 

h  i, 

1, 

1 ,  i 

.idi' 

1 

forthwith.  He  further  ordered  that  I  should  be  trea- 
ted with  less  severity.  Truly  I  felt  grateful  to  this 
magistrate,  for  his  act  of — charity  I  will  call  it — though 
it  was  but  justice,  made  my  misery  less  and  some- 
what easier  to  be  borne.  Some  three  or  four  were 
thrust  into  the  cells  for  refusing  to  work  any  longer 
on  the  frosty,  flinty  roads,  without  shoes,  where  they 
were  kept  a  number  of  days,  then  taken  out  and  com- 
pelled to  resume  their  work,  with  a  promise  of  shoes 
in  a  short  time.  But  no  shoes  did  they  have  till  dis- 
tribution time  came,  when  their  feet  were  so  sore  and 
swollen  that  it  was  with  much  anguish  they  could 
wear  them ;  and  because  they  could  not  wear  them 
readily  they  were  more  greatly  berated  than  ever. 
Thus  it  was,  abuse  heaped  upon  abuse  and  wrong 
piled  upon  wrong. 

We  had  been  at  this  station  some  months,  when 
hearing  that  three  American  vessels  lay  at  Hobart 
town,  we  determined  to  make  an  effort  to  escape^ 
We  counselled  upon  the  matter,  and  finally  decided 
that  two  of  our  number  should  make  the  attempt  to 
get  to  Hobart,  and  devise  some  plan  with  the  masters 
of  the  vessels  whereby  we  might  be  taken  away. 
This  accomplished,  they  were  to  return  and,  if  not 
caught,  report  to  the  rest.  The  lot  fell  on  Miller  and 
Stewart,  two  men  of  education  and  intelligence.  *•  We 
succeeded  in  making  a  hole  through  the  roof  of  our 
hut,  and  at  midnight  helped  them  out.  They  got 
safely  to  Hobart,  and  were  secreted  by  one  Chaffee, 
a  tavern  keepci  living  near  Sandy  Bay  station.— 


LOVELY    BANKS. 


Ill 


trea- 
0  this 
lough 
some- 
were 
onger 
e  they 
i  corn- 
shoes 
till  dis- 
)re  and 
could 
r  them 
L  ever, 
wrong 

I,  when 
Hobart 
escape^ 
decided 
jmpt  to 
masters 
i  away. 
I,  if  not 
Her  and 
e.  *We 
f  of  our 
hey  got 
[Chaffee, 


Chaffee,  who  was  a  freemason,  was  a  warm  friend  of 
our  company,  and  hnd  done  us  many  little  kindness- 
es. His  sympathies  were  first  enlisted  for  two  of 
our  number,  who  were  brother  masons,  and  feeling 
so  strong  an  interest  for  them,  he  also  came  to  sym- 
pathise with  us  all.  Miller  and  Stewart  opened  their 
plan  and  asked  his  advice  or  assistance,  which  was 
readily  given.  He  went  himself  to  the  town  and  saw 
the  captains,  and  so  far  enlisted  their  favor  that  one 
of  them  returned  with  him  to  see  Miller  and  Stewart. 
Their  plans  were  quickly  entered  into. 

As  soon  as  it  was  discovered  in  the  morning  that 
the  men  had  fled  from  the  station,  a  great  uproar  was 
made,  and  men  were  sent  out  in  all  directions  to  find 
them,  but  without  success.  Still  the  search  was  con- 
tinued, whilst  things  settled  down  into  more  quiet. 
During  all  this  time  our  comrades  lay  snugly  con- 
cealed by  Chaffee,  hoping  that  as  the  search  extend- 
ed more  into  the  *'bush,"  they  might  be  enabled  to 
safely  return  and  communicate  to  us  the  intelligence 
which  would  be  necessary  before  we  made  any  dem- 
onstration, which,  when  we  did,  we  had  resolved  to 
accomplish  or  perish  in  the  attempt.  They  succeed- 
ed in  getting  within  six  miles  of  us  undiscovered. 
They  were  then  caught,  taken  before  a  magistrate, 
and  sentenced  to  Port  Arthur.  So  we  had  no  op- 
portunity then  of  learning  the  result  of  their  mission, 
and  consequently  could  do  nothing  for  ourselves. 
Though  they  wer<*  sent  to  Port  Arthur  to  be  dealt 
with,  not  like  men,  but  like  brutes,  they  had  on  the 


. » 


r:   -'  I 


112 


LOVELY    BANKS. 


i    i 


whole  an  easier  time  of  it.  Their  education  served 
them  a  good  purpose,  for  one  was  employed  as  a 
teacher,  and  the  other  as  signal  man.  The  benevo- 
lence of  Chaffee  in  this  affair  may  be  seen  in  a  bet- 
ter light,  when  it  is  known  that  he  was  running  the 
risk  of  losing  all  he  possessed,  and  being  imprisoned, 
if  not  hung  beside.  To  harbor  a  runaway  convict 
irs  a  crimr  punishable  with  great  severity,  and  to  aid 
him  in  making  an  escape  is  still  more  heinous.  It 
did  the  heart  good  to  have  such  friends  as  Chaffee, 
but  oh,  how  scarce  they  were.        ■'-     •      •    •  * 

The  day  after  the  capture  of  our  friends,  we  were 
ordered  to  be  dressed  in  "magpie"  and  changed  to 
another  station,  where  were  a  number  of  soldiers  sta- 
tioned. This  "magpie"  suit  is  intended  for  chain 
gangs  and  doubly  convicted  prisoners,  and  is  ordered 
by  government  as  a  badge  of  the  deepest  disgrace. 
It  is  composed  of  black  and  yellow  cloth,  of  the  same 
quality  as  the  grey.  The  left  side  of  the  front  part 
of  the  body,  with  the  front  of  the  left  arm  and  leg, 
together  with  the  right  side  of  the  back  part  of  the 
body  were  yellow,  whilst  the  remainder  was  black. 
The  suits  were  all  of  a  size,  or  with  but  a  slight  va- 
riation, and  were  distributed  to  us  as  we  stood  in 
rank,  without  regard  to  their  fitting  our  persons. 
The  consequence  was,  we  got  all  sorts  of  fits.  Some 
short  fellow  having  a  pair  of  breeches  quite  large 
enough  for  a  child  of  Anak,  and  a  roudabout  that 
would  have  done  honor  to  "his  excellency,"  Sir  John 
himself.     A  more  motly,  grotesque  group,  could  not 


morl 

onb 

Thl 


i    i ; 


LOVELY    BANKS. 


113 


be  well  imagined.  Knowing  the  change  was  made 
for  the  purpose  of  mortifying  and  humbling  our  spir- 
its, we  strove  the  harder  to  deceive  our  masters  as 
to  our  real  feelings,  and  I  believe  we  succeeded  pretty- 
well  in  the  matter.  Indeed  most  of  us  could  not  have 
helped  having  a  bit  of  frolic,  when  we  looked  so  fan- 
tastic. We  danced  about,  and  shouted  and  sung 
songs  as  though  we  were  in  a  real,  perfect  delirium 
of  joy.  A  few  cursed  and  swore  like  madmen  pos- 
sessed. There  a  short  fellow,  with  pantaloon  legs 
and  jacket  sleeves  a  foot  too  long,  might  be  seen 
strutting  up  and  down  in  all  the  pomposity  of  her 
majesty's  lieutenant  governor,  giving  a  speech  to  his 
fellow  subjects  that  smacked  a  good  deal  of  Sir  John. 
Yonder  another,  perhaps  aping  some  less  renowned 
functionary,  with  equal  eclat  from  his  bevy  of  admi- 
rers. Yes,  reader,  we  made  a  jolly  time  of  it,  and 
succeeded  in  some  measure  in  making  our  masters 
ashamed  of  the  matter,  and,  I  believe,  had  not  their 
orders  been  from  a  higher  source,  they  would  have 
restored  us  to  the  old  grey  again — not  that  old  grey 
coat,  though,  which  good  old  Grimes  used  to  wear — 
"  all  buttoned  down  before."  That  was  a  comforta- 
ble, cozy  coat.  But  for  all  this,  we  felt  in  our  hearts 
more  like  sitting  down  and  weeping,  as  did  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  by  the  rivers  of  E>&b-  on. 

We  requested  our  old  suits,  t  ^'  we  might  be  made 

more  comfortable  ;    but  as  the  law  would  allow  us 

only  one  suit  at  a  time,  they  refused  them  to  us. 

The  pantaloons  of  our  *'  magpie,"  instead  of  being 

8 


fk 


114 


LOVELY  BANKS. 


W' 


I: 


ved  up  the  legs  and  sides,  were  fastened  with  but- 
tons placed  about  six  inches  apar*^^,  thus  letting  in 
even  more  of  the  cold  atmosphere  than  our  old  thread- 
bare suit.  The  *'magpie"  was  made  in  this  manner 
for  the  convenience  of  chained  criminals,  who  are 
not  allowed  to  have  their  irons  removed.  We  asked 
permission  to  seam  them  up,  but  this  was  denied  too. 
We  had  grown  so  familiar  with  our  old  suits  of  grey 
that  we  could  readily  recognize  each  other  ;  but  our 
acquaintance  was  again  thrown  into  that  confusion 
we  experienced  when  first  we  donned  the  convict's 
dress.  ,     , 

We  had  now  been  at  Lovely  Banks  station — 
which  the  reader  will  have  seen  by  this  time  \vas  a 
sad  misnomer — nearly  all  the  winter ;  during  all 
which  time  our  party  had  seldom  retired  at  night  with 
a  dry  shirt,  and  then  with  no  means  under  heaven 
to  warm  the  shivering  frame,  save  one  poor,  solitary 
blanket,  and  what  little  heat  the  vital  functions  were 
capable  of  arousing !  The  only  wonder  is,  that  we 
were  not  all  tumbled  into  the  dead  hole,  or  carried 
away  to  the  dissecting  room.     , 


r. 


In 


•: ;  I 


«  -        » - 


A         t. 


se^ 

an( 

m( 

nol 

th( 

upi 


,    i,i 


i    I 


but- 

[ig  in 

liread- 

anner 

o  are 

asked 

d  too. 

fgrey 

but  our 

ifusion 

mvict's 

ation — 
5  was  a 
ring  all 
ght  with 
heaven 
solitary 
ns  were 
that  we 
:  carried 


k    tK    '       1 


■       It  ■  \ 
I     .     ' 


-:      » 


I   ^  i. 


tl... 


'  t  .■ 


CHAPTER     VII. 


•  i  :' 


•   «   '•'•       GREEN     PONDS     STATION. 

We  were  ranked  up  preparatory  for  a  start.  One 
day's  rations  and  our  household  furniture — the  plate 
and  cup — wrapped  in  our  lousey  blankets  and  slung 
across  the  shoulder.  Presently  the  men  in  blue 
roundabouts  had  all  things  ready,  when  we  moved 
off — a  "magpie"  regiment.  We  had  a  hard  day's 
march,  reaching  at  njglit  Green  Ponds  station,  twen- 
ty miles  nearer  Ilobart  town,  where  at  present  we 
were  to  remain.  There  were  here  the  usual  num- 
ber of  her  majesty's  pnid  minions,  and  twelve  soldiers, 
occupying  the  barracks.  The  huts  were  in  a  worse 
condition  than  any  we  had  yet  inhabited — were  more 
filthy,  and  swarmed  with  greater  numbers  of  ver- 
min. Our  labor,  under  Nutman,  or  "Bobby,"  as  he 
was  generally  called — though  occasionally  termed 
"Tiger"  by  the  old  hands — was  only  of  ordinary 
severity.  Nutman  was  renowned  for  savageness, 
and  many,  very  many,  carried  the  effects  of  his  treat- 
iifient  to  "  "  ,  not  their  graves — for  the  convict  is 
not  allowed  a  decent  interment — but  to  the  hole  in 
the  earth,  when  indeed  their  bodies  were  not  snapped 
up  for  the  operator  and  dissecting  room.     It  sewned 


ii;i 


It 


Vw 


! 


m  i  ii 


i( 


116 


OREEiN    rONDfi. 


1  . 

1     : 


thereforo  an  anomoly  to  every  one  that  Nutman 
should  use  us  so  well — for  him.  He  told  us,  though, 
one  day,  that  ho  looked  upon  us  as  different  from 
other  prisoners,  and  so  long  as  we  did  a  good  amount 
of  work  without  grumhling,  he  should  treat  us  accord- 
ingly. Now,  as  we  had  been,  particularly  of  late, 
marked  for  an  increased  amount  of  abuse  and  op- 
pression, Nutman  fell  into  displeasure  with  the  gov- 
ernor, who  removed  him  within  three  weeks,  to  make 
place  for  one  Wright,  who  had  every  requisite  in 
the  character  of  the  most  barbaric  tyrant. 

For  the  governor's  system  of  oppression  it  was 
just  Wright ;  but  for  us  poor,  starved  earth-crushed 
prisoners,  it  was  all  wrong.  He  had  been  captain  of 
a  vessel,  and  had  sailed  several  times  between  Eng- 
land and  Van  Dieman.  Knowing  his  character,  Sir 
John  readily  advanced  him  to  the  superintendency  of 
the  rebel,  vagabond  Yankees.  He  had  no  experi- 
ence in  the  business,  but  with  a  fertile  invention  for 
cruelty,  he  worked  his  royal  master  good  service. 
About  three  miles  distant  was  another  station,  called 
Picton,  whose  superintendent,  Sandyloe,  was  also 
noted  for  great  cruelty.  He  was  himself  a  convict 
for  life,  but  having  been  there  for  many  years,  had 
been  advanced  to  the  superintendence  and  chief  over- 
seership  of  Picton  station.  His  soul  was  completely 
deadened  to  every  feeling  of  human  nature  ;  and  it 
seemad  to  be  his  only  study,  how  he  might  add  mis- 
ery and  woe  te  his  fellow  convicts,  and  give  pleasure 
to  his  masters,  whereby  his  situation  should  be  con- 


\    \ 


i  i    t 


i 


GREEN    rONDS. 


117 


itman 

ugh, 

from 

lount 

;corcl- 

f  late. 

1(1  op- 

|e  gov- 

makc 

site  in 

it  was 
rushed 
ptain  of 
n  Eng- 
3ter,  Sir 
lency  of 
experi- 
ition  for 
service. 
1,  called 
ras  also 
convict 
ars,  had 
iefover- 
npletely 
;  and  it 
idd  mis- 
pleasure 
be  con- 


tinued. Like  every  petty  tyrant,  he  felt  himself  of 
great  consequence,  and  of  all  others  I  ever  saw,  none 
could  go  beyond  him  for  assuming  dignity.  I  believe 
it  is  generally  true,  that  the  lower  and  more  degraded 
the  man,  when  raised  to  some  petty  station,  the  great- 
er his  tyrrany  and  the  greater  his  would-be  dignity. 
For  several  nights  after  the  arrival  of  Wright,  San- 
dyloe  would  come  over  to  muster  us  into  the  cells, 
and  instruct  Wright  in  such  matters  as  pertained  to 
his  new  calling ;  and  it  may  be  well  imagined  that 
Sandyloe  lost  no  opportunity  to  impress  lessons  of 
cruelty  on  his  ready  pupil.  There  was  a  tavern 
midway  between  the  stations,  where  our  quondam 
overseer  would  stop  to  carouse,  so  that  it  was  seldom 
we  got  mustered  in  earlier  than  ten  o'clock,  and  of- 
tener  much  nearer  midnight ;  and  when  he  did  come, 
he  was  ever  so  drunk  and  so  excessively  abusive,  that 
we  came  to  hate  him  worse  even  than  his  satanic  ma- 
jesty. Whenever  our  names  were  called,  we  were 
compelled  to  touch  our  caps,  make  a  bow,  and  speak 
up  deferentially,  "Yes,  sir."  This  ground  our  feel- 
ings of  independence,  which  were  not  yet  dead  in 
our  bosoms,  more  than  any  thing  which  had  yet  been 
forced  upon  us.  The  idea  of  paying  such  homage 
to  a  felon,  convicted,  for  aught  we  knew,  of  the  most 
damning  crimes  in  the  dark  catalogue  of  sin,  was 
more  than  we  felt  disposed  to  submit  to.  Now  and 
then  a  man,  at  first,  would  refuse  to  answer.  But 
Sandyloe  would  command  the  clerk  to  call  the  name 
again,  when,  eyeing  the  man  with  the  malignity  of  n 


m 


ii 


.■/  f 


118 


GREEN     PONDS. 


demon,  he  would  exclaim  in  great  rage  :  "  Now,  do 
you  touch  your  cap  to  me,  sir !  and  when  your  name 
is  called,  do  you  say  yes  sir,  or  I  will  punish  you 
severely."  Of  course  the  man,  utterly  powerless, 
would  have  to  yield.  '     ■ 

At  last  we  were  determined  to  rid  ourselves  of  the 
detested  imp,  at  all  risks.  Having  talked  the  matter 
over,  we  drew  lots,  when  it  fell  upon  Hiram  Sharpe 
and  myself  to  waylay  him  on  his  way  from  the  tav- 
ern. The  carpenter  made  us  two  stout,  heavy  blud- 
geons, with  which  we  stole  out  after  dark,  and  secre- 
ted ourselves  behind  a  large  stump  of  the  green  tree, 
some  thirty  rods  from  the  station  and  directly  in  the 
path  Sandy loe  came.  It  was  a  very  dark  night,  and 
withal  stormy.  We  watched  in  vain  till  past  mid- 
night, when  we  returned  to  our  hut.  He  did  not 
come  that  night,  nor  ever  again,  to  muster  us. 
Whether  the  storm  was  too  violent  for  him,  or  he  had 
misgivings  that  all  things  were  not  as  they  should  be, 
wc  never  knew.  One  of  our  ends  was  obtained — 
we  v\^ere  no  more  troubled  with  his  arrogance.  .: 
A  Our  work  was  exceedingly  severe.  We  had  to 
draw  our  carts  from  one^to  three  miles,  a  part  of  the 
timi.  obtaining  our  loads  from  a  quarry,  up  the  sides 
of  a  vSteep  hill.  Usually  they  were  loaded  full ;  and 
to  g'>  down  the  hill  with  them  was  exceedingly  dan- 
gerous business,  the  pressure  of  the  loads  being  so 
great  as  to  oblige  us  to  run.  holding  on  to  the  carts 
with  all  our  might.  One  man  was  thus  run  over  and 
severely  injured ;  but  no  one  else  received  any  seri- 


i 


GREEN     PONDS. 


119 


[ow,  do 
kur  name 
iiish  you 
)werless, 

es  of  the 

e  matter 

Sharpe 

the  tav- 

avy  blud- 

nd  secre- 
reen  tree, 

tly  in  the 
night,  and 

past  mid- 
le  did  not 
nuster  us. 
,  or  he  had 

should  be, 
obtained — 
ince.  ,  ,i 
We  had  to 
part  of  the 
p  the  sides 
1  full ;  and 
lingly  dan- 
s  being  so 
o  the  carts 
n  over  and 
d  any  seri- 


ous hurt,  though  it  was  far  worse  upon  our  constitu- 
tions, and  more  wearying  to  our  limbs  than  the  steady 
pulling  upon  the  ordinary  road.    ■■   *  -  j 

Whilst  here,  we  sent  a  memorial  to  Sir  John,  com- 
plaining of  our  hard  situation,  and  pleading  for  some 
mitigation  of  our  sufferings.  We  first  spoke  of  the 
matter  to  Wright,  who  replied  we  had  no  business  to 
send  ;  that  if  we  wanted  to  say  any  thing  to  the  gov- 
ernor, we  must  say  it  through  him.  But  knowing 
we  should  have  a  poor  advocate  in  his  person,  we 
chose  to  send  it  on  our  own  responsibility.  Still  it 
availed  us  nothing.  -_      -  .-     ^       ^ 

Not  long  afterward,  it  was  announced  one  eve- 
ning that  his  excellency  would  visit  the  station 
the  next  day.  We  accordingly  remained  in  to  get 
things  to  rights  against  the  coming  of  the  governor 
at  noon.  ■  ■  '■    "^^  ^-        '  -  ^• 

We  were  just  sitting  down  to  our  maggoty  mutton, 
when  an  advanced  messenger  arrived,  informing  us 
that  Sir  John  would  be  presently  at  the  station,  as  he 
was  but  two  miles  back.  Instantly  were  we  mus- 
tered in  the  yard,  where  we  stood  nearly  two  hours 
waiting  for  the  approach  of  the  great  man,  some  one 
of  whose  guards  would  gallop  into  the  yard  every 
few  minutes  to  announce  his  progress.  At  last  he 
was  before  us,  going  through  the  same  manoeuvres 
and  nearly  the  same  rigmarole,  as  when  he  favored 
our  presence  at  Sandy  Bay ;  from  all  of  which  we 
concluded  that  cruelty  and  punishment  were  to  his 
soul  what  brandy  and  mutton  were  to  his  physical 


I  ;: 


t  ; 


! 


M 


120 


GREEN     PONDS. 


|! 


nature.  He  informed  us  he  had  been  to  Port  Arthm*, 
and  had  told  Miller  and  Stuart  that  they  should  nev- 
er hope  for  an  abatement  of  punishment.  Such 
dreadful  bad  men,  for  trying  to  escape,  and  we  were 
almost  as  bad  in  hoping  for  it.  Had  ordered  us 
dressed  in  "magpie"  to  punish  us,  and  had  sent  us 
here  to  be  punished  with  harder  labor,  and  where  his 
military  could  shoot  us  down  for  trying  to  get  into 
the  bush.  If  we  attempted  it,  not  a  mun  of  us  would 
live  ;  used  to  hiang  those  who  took  the  bush,  but  now 
sent  most  of  them  to  harder  stations.  Glad  our  con- 
duct was  good,  but  must  be  punished.  Were  sent 
there  to  be  punished,  and  must  be.  Had  sent  home 
to  government ;  when  he  got  an  answer  would  let  us 
know.  Hoped  it  would  be  lenient ;  wanted  to  help 
us  all  he  could.  Had  received  our  memorial,  but 
couldn't  do  any  thing  now  ;    were  treated  well,  &;c. 

This  sort  of  stuff  was  repeated  over  some  three  or 
four  times,  till  we  got  heartily  tired,  not  only  of  it, 
but  of  him  who  talked  it,  and  were  right  glad  when 
we  were  released  from  the  presence  and  sound  of  the 
old  sinner.  Wright  plucked  up  greater  courage,  and 
after  Sir  John  had  gone,  appeared  to  tax  his  wits  how 
he  could  increase  our  misery. 

No  superintendent,  nor  any  officer  employed  about 
the  stations,  was  permitted  by  government  to  keep 
pigs  or  fowls,  or  any  creature,  lest  the  prisoners'  ra- 
tions should  suffer  thereby ;  yet  Wright  managed  to 
hold  four  pigs,  two  dogs,  and  a  number  of  fowls ;  and 
for  their  support,  made  quite  heavy  drafts  upon  our 


'i  ■  ♦ 


GREEN     PONDS. 


121 


hor, 
nev- 
3uch 
were 
d  us 
nt  us 
:e  his 
into 
vould 
tnow 
r  con- 
1  sent 
home 
let  us 

0  help 
al,  but 
11,  &c. 
iree  or 
Y  of  i/, 

1  when 
I  of  the 
ge,  and 
its  how 

d  about 
0  keep 
ers'  ra- 
aged  to 
Is;  and 
)on  our 


flour  for  the  benefit  of  the  shoats  and  biddies,  whilst 
portions  of  the  mutton  passed  down  canine  throats. 
We  complained  of  our  scant  rations,but  Wright  repHed 
to  the  magistrate  that  we  had  our  full  tub  of  bread. 
Perhaps  we  did ;  but  the  deficiency  of  flour  was  coun- 
terbalanced by  a  superfluity  of  water,  and  our  "damp- 
er" (flour  and  water  baked  in  ashes)  came  to  us  but 
half  baked,  and  heavy  as  a  stone.      Our  meat,  too, 
was  of  poorer  quahty  than  any  we  had  yet  had.    Less 
care  was  taken  with  it,  so  that  it  generally  swarmed 
with  crawling  things.      But  such  food  was  all  we 
could  get,  and  famine  compelled  us  to  eat  it  or  die. 
The  prisoners  were  allowed  Saturday  afternoons 
to  wash  their  shirts — in  cold  water,  without  soap — 
and  to  clean  out'  the  yard  and  huts.     I  was  one  after- 
noon thus  engaged  at  a  brook  some  rods  from  the 
station,  when  a  settler  passing,  threw  me  some  ten 
pounds  of  "damper,"  a  bit  of  a  leg  of  mutton,  and  a 
couple  of  plugs  of  tobacco.      No  one  was  in  sight, 
and  it  may  be  imagined  how  thankfully  I  picked  up 
the  articles,  anc^  with  what  haste  I   secreted  them 
away,  as  though  they  were  so  much  gold.     I  ate  a 
little  of  it,  and  though  the  damper  was  so  old  that  it 
was  hard  and  musty,  yet  I  never  in  my  own  country 
ate  any  sweet-cakes  that  tasted  half  so  delicious.     I 
told  my  messmate  of  my  fortune,   and  for  several 
days  afterward  we  would  steal  away  from  the  yard 
before  muster  time,  and  make  a  draft  on  the  de- 
posit.    Aye,  we  husbanded  it  with  all  the  care  of  a 
miser.  . 


ili^; 


1 1 


122 


GREEN     PONDS. 


r    / 


At  another  time,  an  old  he  goat — so  old  indeed  that 
his  head  was  toothless,  and  so  poor  that  the  winda 
almost  whistled  through  his  bones— was  given  to  us 
by  another  settler.  We  cooked  a  part  of  him  at 
once,  the  other  half  we  buried  till  we  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  cooking  that  undiscovered. 

At  another  time,  on  a  vSaturday  noon,  I  asked  per- 
mission to  go  in  the  afternoon  and  work  for  some 
settler.     It  was  in  harvest  time,  and  1  had  been  prom 
ised  work  by  one  of  them.     Wright  refused.     Pres 
ently  he  left  the  station  to  be  gone  till  night.     Tak 
ing  advantage  of  his  absence,  I  went  and  worked,  re 
ceiving  at  night  my  pay  in  tea,  sugar,  tobacco  anc 
flour.     Anxious  to  earn  all  I  possibly  could,  I  staid 
a  little  too  long,  so  that  when  I  returned  the  muster 
had  just  been  made.    Wright  immediately  questioned 
me.     I  replied,  I  had  been  at  work  for  a  settler,  to 
get  a  little  something  to  keep  me  from  starving.    He 
tried  hard  to  find  out  the  man,  but  I  would  not  inform 
him,  lest  the  settler  should  have  been  fined.      He 
next  asked  me  if  I  brought  anything  home.     I  an- 
swered I  had  not.     I  had  hid  them  about  forty  rods 
from  the  station.     Had  I  brought  them  in,  I  should 
have  been  punished  f-)r  it,  besides  losing  them  in  the 
bargain.     I  was  clapped  in  the  watch  house,  where 
I  lay  till  Monday  noon,  when  I  was  taken  before  a 
magistrate  and  sentenced  to  seven  days  of  solitary, 
on  the  daily  allowance  of  a  pound  of  ^'damper"  and 
a  pint  of  water.    This  was  the  only  solitary  I  received 
on  the  roads,  and  it  seemed  to  me  I  should  starve  to 


magij 

The' 

just 

malsl 

just 

enrai 

hardi 

fear  I 

seei 

hari 

tionl 

busl 

hop] 

we 


}d  that 
winds 
to  us 
lim  at 
oppor- 

led  per- 
\y  some 
prom- 
Pres- 
Tak- 
•ked,  re- 
lcco  and 
I  staid 
3  muster 
lestioned 
ettler,  to 
ng.    He 
3t  inform 
id.      He 
J.     I  an- 
DYiy  rods 
I  should 
Bm  in  the 
le,  where 
before  a 
sohtary, 
per"  and 
.  received 
starve  to 


GREEN     PONDS. 


123 


death  before  I  came  out.  By  the  old  hands  this  sort 
of  punishment  is  considered  the  hardest  that  can  be 
inflicted,  and  they  had  far  rather  take  the  quota  of 
lashes  from  *he  cat,  than  the  week  of  solitary.  After 
the  seven  days  were  expired,  I  enjoyed  the  fruits  of 
my  half  day's  labor  as  often  as  I  could  get  the  op- 
portunity of  doing  it  unobserved. 

Wright  continued  to  make  so  many  depredations 
on  our  rations,  that  we  determined  to  stand  it  no 
longer.  If  one  way  would  not  stop  it,  we  began  to 
think  that  desperation  might  bring  it  about  by  other 
means.  We  complained  again  to  the  magistrates, 
demanding  and  insisting  upon  an  investigation  of  the 
matter,  for  we  kneiv  that  Wright  did  keL^>  pigs,  dogs 
and  fowls,  contrary  to  law,  and  that  he  did  appropriate 
some  portion  of  our  rations  to  their  sustenance.  The 
magistrate  could  not  well  avoid  noticing  the  complaint. 
They  looked  into  the  matter,  and  found  the  pigs  &c. 
just  as  we  had  represented,  when  they  took  the  ani- 
mals from  his  custody,  and  gave  the  villain — not  his 
just  deserts — but  a  severe  reprimand.  This  affair 
enraged  him  so  greatly  that  he  strove  harder  and 
harder  to  take  vengeance  on  us ;  still  he  had  some 
fear  of  the  powers  that  were  above  him.  But  it 
seemed  by  his  treatment  that  he  was  determined  to 
harrass  our  lives  out  of  us,  or  drive  us  to  despera- 
tion :  to  do  something  that  should  compel  us  to  the 
bush,  or  to  certain  death.  Still  we  strove  to  bear  it, 
hoping  against  hope  for  a  better  time  to  come,  when 
we  should  be  released  from  our  cruel  bondage.  ,.  - 


\\\  \ 


'■  i\ 


1  i  ^1 


( 

1 
i 

i 

)     ■ 

\ 

i      : 

1 

:i 

i 
1 

11         '■ 

1 

;     , 

i,l 

t. 

134 


GREEN     PONDS. 


0 


Two  months  or  thereabouts  after  Sir  John's  visit, 
we  received  information  of  his  second  coming.  To 
describe  his  speech  and  manner,  would  be  but  a  repe- 
tition. The  only  new  feature  was  a  letter  from  Lord 
John  Russell,  which  was  read  to  us  by  the  great 
man's  secretary.  Whether  we  heard  the  whole  of 
it  I  cannot  say.  What  we  did  hear,  was  to  the  ef- 
fect that  the  noble  lord  had  delayed  writing  till  he 
should  hear  from  Lord  Sydenham,  governor  general 
of  Canada,  who  had  no  objection  that  Sir  John  should 
treat  us  as  he  chose,  only,  that  he  should  not  allow 
us  to  return  to  America.  So,  it  was  in  the  old  mut- 
ton eater's  power  to  give  us  every  indulgence  that 
could  be ;  and  with  all  his  great  professions  in  our 
remembrance,  we  looked  upon  him  with  scorn  and 
hatred.  All  the  consolation  that  we  got,  was  the  as- 
surance that  if  we  continued  to  be  good  men  till  our 
probation  of  two  years  was  expired,  we  should  have 
tickets-of-leave — not  to  leave  the  island — but  to  go 
any  where  on  it  we  chose,  so  long  as  we  should 
make  weekly  returns  to  some  peace  officer,  of  our 
doings  and  whereabouts.  This  privilege,  he  assured 
us,  was  a  great  privilege,  and  the  next  thing  to  free- 
dom. But  if  our  conduct  was  extraordinarily  good, 
we  might  possibly  get  "tickets"  before  the  two  years 
were  fully  expired. 

This  I  thought  mighty  poor  consolation.  We 
were  entitled  to  tickets  at  the  expiration  of  two  years 
without  any  ifs  or  ands,  provided  we  kept  clear  of  a 
sw?ond  condemnation.     The  other  assurance  seemed 


GREEN     rONDS. 


125 


visit, 

To 

repe- 

Lord 

great 

lole  of 

Ithe  ef- 

till  he 

general 

I  should 

3t  allow 

Id  mut- 

ice  that 

s  in  our 

orn  and 

s  the  as- 

1  till  our 

uld  have 

3ut  to  go 

e  should 

r,  of  our 

3  assured 

yto  free- 

ily  good, 

wo  years 

1.  We 
svo  years 
lear  of  a 
3  seemed 


more  like  the  apples  of  Sodom.  We  had  been  try- 
ing by  every  thing  in  our  power  to  keep  out  of  pun- 
ishment, and  to  merit  the  reasonable  approbation  of 
those  over  us ;  but  instead  of  bringing  ivors,  it 
seemed  only  to  result  in  harder  work  and  deeper 
misery.  Yes,  if  we  would  be  "very  good  men" — 
that  is,  I  suppose,  if  we  would  unmurmuringly  put 
up  with  every  exaction  that  should  be  required,  and 
submit  to  every  insult  that  could  be  heaped  on  us, 
and  then  toil  on  with  an  energy  that  should  quickly 
exhaust  the  physical  system  and  put  out  the  lamp  of 
life,  we  should  have  a  ticket-of-leave — su«h  a  ticket, 
though,  as  the  unscrupulous  doctor  would  administer 
in  his  potions  !  Yes,  it  would  be  liberty  !  The  freed 
spirit  would  be  liberated  from  the  tyranizedbody  and 
take  its  flight  to  other  realms.  There  is  one  conso- 
lation for  the  convict  there  :  his  soul  shall  not  rest 
in  Van  Dieman. 

There  was  one  of  our  number  who  had  managed 
to  keep  a  journal  for  the  greater  part  of  the  time  since 
our  capture.  His  name  was  Woodman.  He  exer- 
cised a  good  deal  of  ingenuity  in  secreting  it  from 
those  who  had  to  do  with  us.  Two  or  three  of  the 
men  were  seen  one  day  with  pieces  of  paper.  It  was 
enough  to  rouse  the  suspicions  of  Wright,  who  had 
us  that  night  strictly  examined,  some  being  stripped. 
Woodman's  journal,  and  scraps  of  journals  by  one  or 
two  others,  were  found.  They  were  taken  before 
the  magistrate,  Erskine,  who  only  laughed  at  Wright, 
teUing  him  if  the  mean  little  tricks  there  depicted  of 


126 


GREEN     PONDS. 


him  were  true,  he'd  better  say  nothing  of  the  matter, 
else  he  would  get  himself  into  trouble.  It  being  pro- 
hibited the  prisoners  keeping  any  thing  of  the  sort, 
Woodman  and  the  others  saw  no  more  of  their  pen- 
ciHngs.  The  bits  of  paper  seen,  and  which  were 
the  occasion  o"  the  search,  were  pieces  of  newspa- 
pers which  would  be  occasionally  dropped  among  the 
men,  containing  some  delusive  hope  of  our  being 
speedily  delivered.  Settlers  as  they  came  along 
would  talk  in  the  same  manner,  adding  now  and  then 
reasons  that  indeed  ap-peared  plausable.    ''  '  -'•!'''- 

At  this  station  were  six  men  attached  to  a  wood 
cart,  whose  business  it  was  to  furnish  the  station  with 
wood.  Their  daily  tasks  were  three  loads,  each  con- 
taining a  half  cord  of  dry  wood,  which  was  drawn 
three  miles.  Besides  this,  they  had  also  to  cut  it, 
which  made  a  hard  day's  work  of  it.  Wright  had  a 
"down"  on  them  for  some  trifling  matter,  nobody 
knew  what.  So,  to  vent  his  spleen,  he  ordered  them 
back  one  Friday  night  just  at  dusk  for  the  fourth 
load.  They  refused  to  go.  Almost  universally,  for 
a  person  to  refuse  to  work,  no  matter  what  the  de- 
mand is,  is  the  worst  thing  he  can  do.  He  is  quite 
sure  to  receive  some  sharp  punishment.  If  it  be  an 
overtask,  his  source  of  redress  is  the  magistrate. 
-But  it  is  so  seldom  that  the  prisoner  gets  even  a  shad 
ow  of  justice,  that  to  appeal  is  almost  an  act  of  des- 
peration. If  he  do  not  succeed,  his  situation  is  sure 
to  become  worse,  and  if  he  does,  the  overseer  has  so 
many  ways  of  making  him  feel  his  displeasure,  that 


GREEN     PONDS. 


127 


a  wood 
on  with 
ich  con- 
s  drawn 
;o  cut  it, 
ht  had  a 
nobody 
red  them 
e  fourth 
sally,  for 
i  the  de- 
is  quite 
'  it  be  an 
gistrate. 
n  a  shad 
t  of  des- 
1  is  sure 
3r  has  so 
lure,  that 


a  victory  is  almost  as  bad  as  a  defeat.  Wright  then 
asked  them  separately,  calling  them  by  name,  "  Will 
you  go?"  To  which  they  decidedly  answered  "  No." 
They  were  then  placed  in  the  watch  house.  Pris. 
oners  while  here  awaiting  an  examination,  have  their 
full  rations.  If  sentenced  to  the  cells,  they  have  then 
the  pound  of  bread  and  pint  of  water.  Monday 
morning  the  principal  doctor  came  round.  He  spoke 
of  the  folly  of  these  men  in  disobeying  orders,  and 
remarked  they  would  undoubtedly  be  severely  flagel- 
lated. That  day  the  carpenter  was  ordered  to  make 
repairs  on  the  triangle.  By  this  time  our  blood  was 
getting  up,  and  we  came  to  the  determination  that 
our  comrades  should  not  be  flogged,  or  if  they  were 
flogged,  our  masters  would  be  compelled  to  flog  every 
man  of  us.  That  night,  whilst  the  constables  and 
officers  were  at  their  tea,  we  tore  the  triangle  in 
pieces  and  burned  it  in  the  cook's  room.  The  next 
morning  another  took  its  place,  which  during  the  day 
was  secreted  in  a  brush  fence  some  distance  from 
the  station,  by  the  baker,  cook,  and  wardsmen,  who 
remain  behind  to  get  the  victuals  and  keep  the  station 
in  order.  Dilhgent  inquiries  were  made  for  the  mis- 
sing triangles,  but  as  no  one  was  seen  in  the  acts,  all 
remained  innocent.  The  second  morning  a  third 
one  made  its  appearance,  which  was  locked  in  the 
store  house.  ■  •  >-     -  "  •  > 

Our  clamor  and  the  expressed  determination  to  re- 
sist the  flogging  of  our  fellow  prisoners,  spread  out 
among  the  settlers  and  caused  a  great  excitement. 


I   ! 


'     * 


m 


\\- 


i- 


V' 


128 


GREEN     rONDS. 


Many  of  them  came  to  the  station  to  reason  with  us 
against  our  folly  :  *'for,"  said  they,  "if  your  masters 
set  out  to  punish  these  men,  they  will  do  it,  though 
they  have  to  flog  you  all.  Do  it,  you  may  depend 
they  will,  even  if  it  should  cost  some  of  you  your 
lives."  But  we  replied  :  "  Be  that  as  it  may,  if  those 
men  are  flogged,  we  shall  be  too;  for  we  will  not  sub- 
mit to  see  the  punishment  inflicted ;  come  what  may, 
we  shall  surely  resist  it."  -  -  • 

The  magistrates  came  on  Friday,  when  the  men 
were  brought  before  them.  Wright  made  his  state- 
ment ;  to  which  the  men  answered — that  it  was  their 
daily  task  to  supply  the  station  with  three  loads  of 
wood — that  that  day  they  had  drawn  the  loads  as  usu- 
al ;  but  for  some  little  ill  will,  Wright  had  ordered 
them  after  the  fourth  load,  which  would  have  taken 
them  till  midnight  to  procure,  and  that,  as  tired  and 
hungry  as  they  were,  it  was  an  impossibility  to  doit; 
therefore  they  refused  to  obey  the  order.  The  re- 
sult of  the  magistrates'  deliberation,  was  to  sentence 
the  men  to  remain  where  they  were  till  Monday 
morning,  when  they  should  resume  their  usual  labor. 
So  Wright,  in  this  instance,  by  reason  no  doubt  of 
our  determination,  failed  in  his  object,  while  the  men 
had  ten  days  of  rest  with  their  usual  allowance  of 
food.  But  Wright  did  not  relish  the  result,  and  he 
took  yet  more  occasion,  if  possible,  to  aggravate  our 
situation. 

.  As  a  fair  specimen  of  the  tender  mercies  of  these 
tyranical  overseers,  I  will  mention  one  circumstance 


1 , 


<iREEN     PONDS. 


129 


lith  us 
lasters 
liough 
|epend 
your 
f  those 
lot  sub- 
[t  may, 

e  men 

s  state- 

xs  their 

)ads  of 

as  usu- 

Drdered 

e  taken 

-ed  and 

to  do  it; 

rhe  re- 

sntence 

Monday 

l1  labor. 

loubt  of 

;he  men 

mce  of 

and  he 

ate  our 

if  these 
nstance 


that  transpired  at  Picton  station.  It  was  that  of  n 
poor,  weakly  man,  really  unable  to  labor,  but  who 
was,  nevertheless,  kept  at  stone  breaking,  which  is 
considered  the  lisjhtest  \vf>rk  on  the  roads.  lie  looked 
more  the  pictuio  of  death  than  of  a  laboring  man.  A 
drayman  passing  him  one  day,  threw  down  a  piece 
of  tobacco,  weighing  probably  two  or  three  ounces. 
This  method  is  the  only  one  a  freeman  has  of  giving 
the  prisoner  anything.  He  may  throw  it  away,  or 
on  the  ground,  and  the  law  takes  no  cognizance  of 
the  matter  ;  but  if  the  prisoner  be  seen  picking  it  up, 
or  disposing  of  it,  he  must  suffer  as  the  caprice  of  his 
overseer  shall  dictate.  Sandy loe  was  at  some  dis- 
tance when  he  saw  the  poor  man  picking  up  the  to- 
bacco. He  immediately  came  to  him  in  a  great  rage, 
demanding  what  he  had.  Searching  him,  he  discov- 
ered what  it  was,  when  he  ordered  the  man  over  to 
our  station,  to  receive  thirty-six  lashes  for  the  heinous 
crime !  A  gain,  that  same  week,  another  person  pass- 
ing, threw  him  a  bit  of  bread  and  a  bone  of  mutton, 
weighing  in  all  not  over  a  pound.  And  the  picking 
up  of  this  morsel  of  food,  which  was  to  satisfy,  though 
but  for  a  brief  hour,  the  intolerable  pinchings  of  hun- 
ger, was  deemed  by  the  tyrant  Sandyloe  such  a  sin 
that  only  another  quota  of  lashes  from  the  cat-o'-nine- 
tails could  expiate  !  Thus  was  the  starving,  dying 
mar,  subjected  to  seventy-two  cruel  lashes  on  the  bare 
back,  within  four  days — and  for  what  ?  Oh,  heav- 
ens I  for  what  ?     And  such  things  were  of  frequent 

occurrence. 
9 


!>■ 


J:  ; 


r,.      ; 


180 


GREEN    rONDS. 


There  are  usually  at  every  station  what  are  termed 
hilleted  men,  who  are  prisoners  that  can  work  at  such 
trades  as  blacksmithing,  carpentry,  masonry,  dec. 
It  is  the  law  they  shall  work  only  for  government ; 
but  Wright,  with  his  characteristic  clutching,  man- 
aged to  get  a  good  deal  from  three  billeted  men  for 
his  own  private  use  and  benefit.  It  is,  in  fait,  at 
almost  every  station  that  the  overseer  or  superintend- 
ent receives  more  or  less  of  such  benefits.  But  they 
generally  do  it  cautiously,  with  a  reward  given  to  thfr 
mechanic,  so  that  the  matter  is  hushed  from  the  ears 
of  those  who  would  take  cognizance  of  such  transac* 
tions*        J    ^.  .  V  f 

Wright  continued  his  tyranizing  reign  with  a  tight- 
er and  yet  tighter  grasp.  He  kept  the  billeted  men 
busy  a  good  share  of  the  Lime  for  his  own  benefit.. 
In  this  manner  he  furnished  himself  with  bedsteads, 
chairs,  tables,  bird  cages,  &c.  Farmers  would  pay 
him  a  fair  price  for  chairs  or  harrow  teeth,  with  some- 
thing of  a  sop  to  the  overseer.  Wright  would  then 
go  to  the  smith,  take  government  iron,  and  order  him 
to  make  the  article,  saying  they  were  for  a  settler, 
who  would  give  him  a  few  shillings  for  the  job.  But 
it  was  so  managed  that  the  shillings  found  their  way 
into  the  superintenden;'^s  pocket,  whilst  the  pence 
only  were  visible  to  the  billeted  man.  These  exac- 
tions on  the  mechanics  had  grown  beyond  endurance, 
whilst  his  treatment  of  us  all  was  so  inhuman,  that 
we  resolved  to  submit  to  it  no  longer.  We  com- 
plainedt  billeted  men  and  all,  telling  the  magistrate 


I! 


1 


GREEN     F0ND8. 


131 


we  could  not  stand  it  longer — that  if  either  Wright 
or  we  were  not  removed,  there  would  something  oc- 
cur that  would  be  more  readily  explained  than  the 
reason  of  our  treatment  could  be  ; — that,  besides,  wo 
knew  he  had  taken  such  government  property  as  iron, 
lumber,  &c.,  and  had  caused  them  to  be  converted 
to  his  own  benefit.  Erskine  replied,  that  as  he  was 
a  superintendent  and  freeman,  it  would  be  necessary 
that  three  magistrates  should  sit  upon  the  matter,  but 
he  should  presently  be  brought  to  trial.  Within  a 
few  days  he  was  arraigned  and  the  billeted  men 
brought  forward  as  witnesses.  The  result  was,  that 
the  charges  were  proved — Wright  broke  of  his  office 
and  deprived  of  the  privilege  of  ever  holding  another 
under  the  government — the  things  all  taken  from 
him — and  we  shortly  afterward  removed  to  Bridge- 
water.  V"  ,,'■'■■  ^■'•'     '  ,'    ■*  '   "     «"^     " 

ivfl   '■  1'---      '  I'J  il-      .•'';.! ■'„,■,,,'   I-,' 


■i^-'>; 


:>    VK  ,;i^i:*-  .  V'.'- 


i".<|j.;(,i>0 


>J . 


i' 


fiO'i  1 


iv'v.; 


:  .(..-'..-v 

.'    )il^?n''    -if   ■ 

f 

:;US-:     ,: 

.    .  ,.■';■• '-  ■_' ;    iitr '  V 

f^*;i-v 

''  :  ^i  ;"  •;'  in  <-.■ 

1  * 

', 

;-'ij  "ji^y^i  V*.  •'  ii 

.'»:?..- il 

,11^ 


I  i 


>  '  1  ■  V 


0 


X'iJ'- 


f      ' 


hi  I' 


r' !   ■    ! 


'•  •  \:  .) 


Ai- 


I  ' 


CHAPTER     VIII. 


i     r     l^-.J: 


>0  f  I 


;  ■•-'''  ■ '  •   ■ ; .'  f  :ii  i>; 
.    BRIDGEWATER      STATION.     ,    .  .    ,1^ 

We  were  now  within  twelve  miles  of  Hobart  town, 
and  our  hopes  consequently  brightened  up  somewhat 
witli  the  idea  that  some  good  opportunity  might  turn 
up,  whereby  we  should  be  enabled  to  escape.  We 
knew  not  but  our  masters  were  intending  to  bring  us 
again  to  Hobart,  in  which  case  we  were  determined 
to  look  well  to  our  chances.  The  work  at  this  sta- 
tion, was  the  construction  of  a  massive  bridge  across 
the  Derwent,  which  is  here  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
in  breadth.  It  had  been  a  long  time  since  it  was 
commenced,  and  was  not  yet  completed  when  I  finally 
left  the  island.  It  is  composed  almost  entirely  of 
stone.  From  either  shore  solid  stone  abutments  ex- 
tend to  some  distance  into  the  river.  Other  abut- 
ments are  placed  at  regular  distances,  also  filled  with 
stone.  Arches  of  stone  span  the  spaces,  at  a  suffi- 
cient height  to  permit  the  passage  of  small  steam- 
boats. Before  its  final  completion,  the  bridge  some- 
what resembles  a  shallow  aqueduct,  but  instead  of 
water  it  is  filled  with  the  pounded  stone,  thus  making 
a  way  over  the  water  in  all  respects  like  the  road 
itself.  ,,u:      .     ' 


Lh 


BRIDGE  WATER. 


133 


sta< 


There  were  here  some  one  hundred  and  eighty 
old  hands,  and  among  them  a  good  many  billeted 
ones.  The  magistrates  and  flagellators  were  pretty 
steadily  employed,  and  the  cells,  of  which  there  were 
twenty-five,  were  kept  almost  constantly  occupied, 
whilst  there  was  scarcely  a  morning  passed  but  two 
or  three,  and  more  often  six  or  eight,  were  flogged. 
Never  is  one  treated  to  less  than  three  dozen  stripes, 
and  from  that  number  to  one  hundred.  The  sever- 
ity differs  upon  different  individuals,  not  always  ac- 
cording to  the  heinousness  of  the  offence,  but  more 
generally  according  to  the  mood  of  the  flagellator,  or 
the  number  of  pence  or  shiUings  the  culprit  may 
have  it  in  his  power  to  bestow  as  a  "sop"  for  light 
strokes.  For  the  most  part  our  men  were  employed 
by  themselves ;  and  for  the  want  of  an  overseer,  one 
of  our  nu'^iber,  Atchison,  was  placed  over  us,  as  a 
sub.  This  was  some  consolation,  though  we  could 
not  relapse  our  labor,  yet  we  were  free  of  the  con- 
tinual slang  of  abuse,  which  our  former  overseers 
were  so  flush  of.  . 

It  had  been  ordered  at  the  first  that  our  company 
should  not  be  mixed  up  with  the  old  hands,  as  those 
are  termed  who  have  been  there  from  England  a 
year,  and  now  we  were  in  no  very  pleasant  mood 
about  the  matter,  for  we  felt  too  severely  the  contact 


with  them.     .J'^i>/  t/^n^ 


H  -"^^nji 


:/fi!<f  of  f):Uii  td'^m  if^i? 


Among  so  many  billeted  men,  there  was  to  be 
found  more  or  less  money;  The  cook  and  baker, 
taking  advantage  of  these  and  their  own  circumstan- 


f  I 


134 


BRIDGEWATER. 


1!         I 


1 

1 

t: 
■ 

i 

■  '      i 

ces,  would  sell  to  these  men  various  little  indulgen- 
ces—as a  cup  of  tea  or  coffee,  a  loaf  of  yeast-raised 
bread,  &c. — of  course  giving  to  the  superintendent 
and  overseers  a  share  to  keep  them  from  complain- 
ing. We  were  very  quickly  satisfied  that  our  flour 
tub  suffered  too  much  in  this  matter,  and  we  were  not 
sufficiently  charitable  to  allow  our  hungry  stomachs 
to  be  yet  more  starved  for  the  benefit  of  the  pockets 
of  those  jackalls  who  already  had  good  living,  with- 
out making  an  effort  to  bring  the  thieves  to  an  ac* 

count.  '/r^'Mlo  6ii;r    "•>     -a'^^r'^s' ..•':,;  :''^}^  -^'  1,.;{:i   ' 

When  the  men  returned  at  night,  the  cook  and 
the  baker  would  appear  in  the  yard  with  their  loaves 
for  tliose  who  could  pay  for  them.  It  was  too  tanta- 
lizing to  see  those  comparatively  fine,  sweet  loaves 
passing  about,  without  having  a  bite  at  them  too,  es- 
pecially when  we  felt  confident  that  some  measure 
of  our  own  flour  helped  to  give  them  their  propor- 
tions, whilst  our  damper  was  half  baked  and  "soggy." 
We  complained  to'Atchison,  that  had  we  money  we 
might  bu3^  very  good  bread  made  from  flour  that  was 
lawfully  ours  ;  but  in  our  present  condition  it  was 
useless  to  hope  for  it,  and  consequently  we  did  not 
feel  disposed  to  submit  tamely  to  such  a  state  of 
things  much  longer.  Atchison  replied,  he  had  an 
English  shilling  in  his  pockot  that  some  one  of  the 
men  might  take  to  purchase  a  loaf  with,  which,  if  the 
baker  would  sell  to  him,  would  give  us  an  opportu- 
nity to  do  something  effectual  In  the  matter.  Ac- 
cordingly it  was  given  to  one  Richardson,  who  put 


ilgen- 

[raised 

jndent 

iplain- 

|r  flour 

jre  not 

)machs 

)ockets 

j,  with- 

an  ac- 

ok  and 
loaves 
|o  tanta- 
t  loaves 

too,  es- 
tneasure 

propor- 
3oggy.'> 
»ney  we 
that  was 
a  it  was 

did  not 
state  of 

had  an 
)  of  the 
h,  if  the 
>pportu- 
Ac- 
vho  put 


BRIDGEWATER. 


135 


upon  it  a  private  mark,  whereby  it  might  be  recog- 
nized again.  A  loaf  was  purchased  without  difficul- 
ty, when  Richardson  immediately  reported  to  Atchi- 
who  took  the  loaf  and  called  on  the  superintendent, 
with  a  complaint  that  the  baker  was  selling  bread 
which  he  believed  was  made  from  our  rations,  and 
as  proof  exhibited  the  loaf  which  he  had  just  taken 
from  one  of  his  own  gang.  The  superintendent  tried 
to  evade  the  matter  and  put  him  off,  but  our  overseer 
mistrusting  the  object  to  be  to  smother  it  up,  would 
not  consent,  but  demanded  an  immediate  inspection 
of  the  baker,  to  ascertain  whether  the  shilling  said  to 
have  been  paid  by  the  prisoner  could  be  found  with 
him.  The  superintendent  was  obliged  to  go,  though 
exceedingly  reluctant.  He  questioned  the  baker 
whether  he  had  any  money.  "  Yes,  a  few  shillings.'* 
"Let  me  see  them  j"  whereupon  the  baker  pulled  out 
a  handful  from  his  pocket,  and  among  them  the  shilling 
which  Richardson  identified.  The  matter  was  now 
fastened  in  such  a  manner  that  a  magistrate  would 
be  compelled  to  notice  it,  and  bestow  some  sort  of  a 
punishment.  The  rogues  were  well  aware  of  it  and 
tried  hard  to  bribe  Atchison  to  drop  it,  but  to  no  pur- 
pose. The  superintendent,  thinking  to  forestall  Atch- 
ison, complained  to  the  magistrate  of  our  insubordi- 
nation, and  want  of  due  respect,  &c.  Atchison  in 
three  or  four  days  preferred  his  complaint  before  the 
same  dignitary,  whose  name  was  Mason.  He  could 
not  avoid  taking  notice  of  it.  The  trial  came  on, 
and  resulted  in  the  conviction  of  the  superintendent, 


(  i 


f  J 

r 

■ 

i 

^  H 

m 

1 

•11 

1 

' 

)  I 


136 


BRIDGEWATER. 


the  overseers,  the  baker  and  the  cook. .  The  former 
'were  reprimanded,  and  ordered  to  other  and  differ- 
ent stations  ;  the  latter  two  were  punished  with  thir- 
ty-six stripes  each,  and  also  ordered  to  separate  sta- 
tions. We  really  took  delight  in  witnessing  the  op- 
eration, tmd  should  have  been  still  more  delighted, 
could  we  have  had  the  others  bound  to  the  triangle, 
and  ourselves  have  held  the  "cat."  But  then  it  was 
considered  a  deep  disgrace  to  convict  a  superintend- 
ent before  a  magistrate  and  transfer  him  to  another 
station. 

Mason  did  not  like  our  conduct  at  all.  He  gave 
us  a  bitter  harangue.  We  had  furthermore  com- 
plained of  broken  promises  in  being  placed  with  the 
old  hands,  and  demanded  redress.  We  had  been 
there  scarcely  a  month,  when  one  morning  nine  of 
our  number  were  told  to  step  out  of  the  ranks,  get 
their  rations  and  blankets  and  prepare  for  a  move. 
As  they  passed  us  we  asked  them  whither  they  were 
going,  but  they  knew  no  more  of  the  matter  than  did 
the  rest  of  us.  Thus  it  is  with  the  prisoner ;  he  knows 
not  when  he  is  to  leave  one  station  till  the  moment  he 
starts,  nor  where  he  is  to  stop  until  he  arrives  at  the 
place.  The  next  morning  myself  and  eight  others 
were  ordered  in  the  same  manner  to  prepare  for  a 
start.  Two  days'  rations  were  allowed,  when  wt? 
were  quickly  on  our  way,  leaving  our  companions 
behind  us,  whom  perhaps  we  should  never  again  see, 
and  going  we  knew  not  whither.  Heretofore  we 
had  been  on  the  road  that  lead:?  from  Hobart  to 


Lau 

afte] 

our 

stati 

not, 

plai] 

we  ; 

wer 

pun 

feeli 


BRIDGEWATER 


137 


Iformer 
difier- 
1th  thir- 
jate  sta- 
the  op- 
(lighted, 
riangle, 
In  it  was 
:intend- 
another 

le  gave 
re  com- 
with  the 
ad  been 
nine  of 
nks,  get 
a  move, 
lev  were 
than  did 
le  knows 
)ment  he 
es  at  the 
it  others 
ire  for  a 
^hen  Vve 
ipanions 
gain  see, 
fore  we 
[obart  to 


Launceston,  but  now  we  diverged  to  the  right.  We 
afterward  learned  that  this  course  was  pursued  till  all 
our  men  were  distributed  in  gangs  of  nine  to  various 
stations.  For  what  reason  this  was  t^^ne  we  knew 
not,  nor  could  we  imagine,  unless  it  was  for  com- 
plaining of  the  doings  at  this  station,  and  to  which 
we  refused  to  submit ;  and  so  to  be  revenged,  we 
were  divided  and  sent  hither  and  thither  as  a  greater 
punishment,  and   n^  a   greater  aggravation  to  our 


■.ViU.i   i4  vi:,':,   ytr    ;'>r ••/>/. 


/  .': 


.•:i:a*-*^' 


,-«.'   * 


•t\ 


■w    •■■i'. 


-h 


if---  v/' 


!'* 


•   •    ..    '-^ '■•     -':■',   -••>  "• 'y^ '■;■, '^  V 'V  ii*<;:^- i T^i'.if  i/^t'Tf  |,v.w)('{ 
:;v    :v/i,jff  ,-ii;.'^/;,i^'^«^i,A~;  ^.!.'  :.L<\\  ■':'>*  f    -^i.-M  ''1^   .-!-     '•-; 


••j>  yi-t-   ^^;t>' 


^i.tvUiS^h    ;■  -'■    ^^y'ii'- 

•i*n 

r  .;i-sV^-: 

Mc  »•!.{,•]  ■>i;:.d;w  i;;,^.' 

ai  > 

^^j.n  ^lt;,.>^;i.'   !'  ** 

ji;'^  -" 

i-  /M,.!? 

■  n-  i^/'W 

10 

Irmm 

;ii!?"t;  ■    6^J 

I 


I'' 


1'  i 


z 


CHAPTER    IX. 


■I '      I 


JERICHO    STATION. 

The  first  night  we  stopped  at  Brighton  station  and 
the  second  at  Jericho,  thirty  miles  from  Bridgewater, 
where  for  the  present  we  learned  we  had  to  stay. 
This  had  been  a  station  for  a  chain  gang,  that  but  a 
few  days  previous  had  been  moved  elsewhere. 
There  were,  however,  one  hundred  and  eighty  pris- 
oners, fresh  from  England,  and  who  had  been  at  work 
but  a  few  days.  White,  the  superintendent,  was  a 
man  who  had  been  overseer  at  Port  Arthur,  and  was 
an  exceedingly  tyranical  fellow,  showing  very  sel' 
dom  any  mercy.  Still,  to  us  he  was  comparatively 
kind.  So  were  the  overseers,  Goodwin  and  Sher- 
wood, the  latter  of  whom  had  charge  of  us,  and  whom 
we  found  a  strong  friend,  the  only  one,  too,  we  had 
among  the  whole  of  them.  From  him  we  received 
every  possible  indulgence  that  he  dared  allow  us. 
He  had  come  from  England,  where  he  resided  at  the 
time  of  the  Patriot  difficulties  in  Canada,  and  of  which 
he  had  heard  considerable.  He  was  himself  a 
warm  reformer,  and  therefore  felt  a  stronger  sym- 
pathy in  our  situation.  During  our  stay  at  Jer- 
icho we  were  all  members  of  one  hut,  and  evening 


i; 


JERICHO. 


139 


on  and 

iwater, 

>  stay. 

it  but  a 

where. 

ty  pris- 

at  work 

;,  was  a 

and  was 

ery  sel- 

ratively 

id  Sher- 

d  whom 

we  had 

•eceived 

How  us. 

3d  at  the 

)f  which 

nself   a 

er  sym- 

at  Jer- 

evening 


after  evening  did  he  come  and  sit  with  us,  and  talk 
over  our  troubles,  and  sympathize  in  our  misfortunes. 
From  what  he  had  seen,  and  what  he  had  heard  in 
Hobart  town,  he  supposed  we  were  to  remain  on  the 
island  for  life.  He  however  unfolded  to  us  a  plan 
by  which,  when  we  should  obtain  our  tickets-of-leave, 
we  probably  might  leai^e  the  country.  He  would 
have  us  see  all  our  comrades,  inform  them  of  the  mat- 
ter, and  each  save  all  the  money  possible,  to  help  de- 
fray their  expenses ;  whilst,  in  the  mean  time,  he 
would  manage  to  obtain  a  ship,  (he  was  a  man  of 
considerable  property,)  when,  by  various  means,  we 
might  make  the  sea  shore  at  some  convenient  point, 
then  come  on  board,  and  change  the  destination  of 
the  ship  to  New  York.  He  entered  into  the  matter 
with  his  whole  soul,  as  though  he  was  determined  we 
should  not  stay  there,  if  his  services  could  prevent 
it.  But  after  we  got  our  "tickets"  and  found  that 
government  was  changing  its  policy  somewhat,  and 
was  commencing  to  pardon  some  of  our  number,  we 
went  to  him  and  advised  him  to  abancon  the  scheme, 
as  the  probabilities  w^ere  now  in  our  favor,  so  that 
we  hoped  ere  long  to  be  all  free  ;  and  that  the  risk 
to  which  he  would  expose  himself  was,  under  the  cir- 
cumstances now  too  great.  So  for  his  sake,  as  well 
as  ours,  we  wished  him  to  give  it  up.  •.;*..•,,  ,-\ 
White-*vas  a  very  different  man — ^working  his  in- 
genuity to  catch  the  overseers  off  their  duty,  or  some 
of  the  men  idle.  He  frequently  visited  them  at  their 
work,  coming  now  upon  him  from  the  bush,  then 


■'%     \ 


IM 


!  I: 


140 


JERICHO. 


^^^ 


II 


i     1' 

m 

pi-^ 

i 
1 

! 

1 

1 

Liid. 

from  that  direction,  and  again  from  this ;  sure  alway?* 
of  making  his  appearance  from  some  quarter  least 
expected ;  and  when"  he  found  a  man  idle,  or  the 
overseer  apparently  negligent,  a  punishment  was 
sure  to  follow. 

The  new  prisoners  felt  their  situation  most  griev- 
ously, and  were  all  so  unused  to  it — and  yet  knew  so 
little  of  the  consequences  that  would  result — that  they 
were  continually  taking  the  bush,  often  ten  and  a 
dozen  at  a  time.  But  universally  they  would  be 
caught  again  in  two,  three,  or  four  days,  or  if  stand- 
ing it  longer,  hunger  would  drive  them  to  some  set- 
tler's door,  who  in  securing  them  obtained  his  £2 
each.  I  have  known  instances  where  the  constable 
has  bai'gained  with  the  prisoners  to  take  the  bush  and 
remain  concealed  long  enough  for  him  to  claim  the 
reward  in  their  apprehension,  when  he  would  divide 
the  gain,  or  not — as  he  was  governed  by  the  sense 
of  honor.  If  the  prisoner  plead  the  fact  of  the  con- 
stable's connivance  in  the  matter,  as  a  bar  to  punish- 
ment, his  story  received  no  ere  dit,  whilst  the  consta- 
ble went  his  way  with  the  honor  of  being  an  active 
and  efficient  officer,  perhaps  worthy  of  promotion  ? 
A  prisoner  there  has  not  so  many  rights  in  law  as  our 
southern  slaves,  whilst  the  treatment  of  the  negro  is 
far  superior.  I  remember  one  little  fellow,  thirteen 
years  of  age,  who  took  the  bush,  was  caught,  and 
sentenced  to  receive  thirty-six  lashes.  The  flagel- 
lator,  Big  Sandy,  was  a  large  six  foot  man,  of  strong 
wiuscular  proportions.      It  seemed  somehow  inhu- 


man, th 
fasten  i 
ison  ap[ 
the  bloo 
stripped 
courage 
Sandy, 
busines! 
warrant 
was  su( 
stout,  ai 
dicrous 
muscles 
blow  br 
murder, 
niagislr 
to  see  I 
he,  '•  G 
the  bus 
and  I'll 
ings  W( 
ceed. 
blows 
ous  the 
turnedl 
"Marl 
that  b( 
fulfilh 
yetm< 
sense  i 


JERICHO. 


141 


lway5« 
least 
)r  the 
It  was 

gviev- 
ew  so 
,t  they 
and  a 
uld  be 
stand- 
lie  Set- 
his £2 
nstable 
\ish  and 
lim  the 
1  divide 
e  sense 
he  con- 
punish- 
consta- 
n  active 
motion ! 
w  as  our 
negro  is 
thirteen 
jht,  and 
3  flagel- 
f  strong 
w  inhu- 


man, that  a  man  of  his  size,  a  giant  almost,  should 
fasten  upon  the  triangle  a  little  boy,  that  in  compar- 
ison appeared  a  perfect  Lilliputian,  to  flagellate  with 
the  bloody  cat.  The  little  fellow,  as  he  was  being 
stripped  and  fastened  to  the  triangle,  plucked  up  great 
courage  and  spoke  pertly  to  Sandy  :  *'Now,  Big 
Sandy,  I  want  you  should  do  good  justice  in  your 
business.  .Tust  put  it  on,  hard  as  you  please,  and  I'll 
warrant  you'll  not  hear  this  chap  sing  out."  There 
was  such  a  contrast,  and  the' boy's  spunk  was  so 
stout,  and  there  seemed  something  so  irresistably  lu- 
dicrous in  the  scene,  that  we  could  not  control  our 
muscles,  but  had  to  laugh  pretty  heartily.  The  first 
blow  brought  forth  such  a  shriek  and  a  cry  of  bloody 
murder,  that  the  flagellator  stopped  at  once.  The 
magistrate  smiled,  and  some  of  the  spectators  laughed, 
to  see  how  quick  his  valor  had  oozed  away.  Says 
he,  '*  Good  magistrate  let  me  go,  and  I'll  never  take 
the  bush  again.  Oh !  good  magistrate,  do  let  me  go, 
and  I'll  do  anything  you  want  me  to."  His  plead- 
ings were  useless  ;  the  man  was  commanded  to  pro- 
ceed. Two  more  blows  were  struck,  not  extreme 
blows  either,  but  the  little  fellow's  cries  were  so  piti- 
ous  that  Sandy  again  stopped.  The  magistrate  then 
turned  to  him  and  with  a  bitter,  sarcastic  voice,  said, 
"  Mark  me,  Sandy,  do  you  do  your  faithful  duty  upon 
that  boy,  ari  if  you  stop  again  until  the  sentence  is 
fulfilled,  you  shall  be  tied  in  his  place  and  flogged 
yet  more  severely."  This  speech  touched  the  man's 
sense  of  honor.     Then  came  the  heavy  blows  upoa 


I 


142 


JERICHO. 


i 


;.  1 


that  tender  back  till  it  was  a  gore  of  blood.  Every 
stroke  opened  fresh  streams  of  it.  It  made  my  very 
heart  sick  and  faint  to  look  upon  the  horrible  sight. 
Ho  was  taken  to  the  hospital  where  he  lay  several 
weeks  scarcely  able  to  move  hand  or  foot.  Had  he 
kept  still  and  uttered  none  of  his  bravado,  he  might 
have  escaped  with  a  much  lighter  punishment.  Big 
Sandy  afterward  remarked  he  intended  to  punish  him 
as  lightly  as  he  dared  to,  and  the  first  blow  was  a 
much  heavier  one  than  he  should  have  given  him 
had  he  not  been  "so  sassy,"  as  he  termed  it. 

There  was  no  station  between  Jericho  and  Brigh- 
ton, and  for  the  first  fortnight  our  work  lay  at  a  dis- 
tance of  five  miles.  The  quarry  was  near  the  road, 
so  that  we  had  not  over  half  a  mile  to  cart  the  stone, 
and  as  the  road  was  good,  we  found  this  work  easier 
than  we  had  elsewhere. 

Under  all  our  rough  treatment  and  hard  labor  my 
constitution  was  gradually  giving  away.  With  my 
work  and  food  I  was  famished  to  a  skeleton  almost, 
and  was  consequently  weak  and  spiritless.  Sher- 
wood commisserated  my  condition  and  really  wished 
to  do  something  in  my  favor.  Accordingly,  one  day 
he  asked  me  if  I  would  not  like  to  go  into  the  car- 
penter's shop.  [  told  him  I  should  but  for  one  rea- 
son :  it  gave  such  fi  chance  of  getting  a  shilling  now 
and  then,  that  I  should  not  know  how  to  resist  the 
temptation,  which  would  expose  me  to  severe  pun- 
ishment. "Oh,'*  says  he,  "you  must  be  careful 
About  it."     I  consented,  when  he  said  he  would  speak 


to  tho  SI 
such  as 
was,  I  ^ 
same  tin 
cart  to  s 
only  hal 
them  als 
of  tobac< 
Our  oth< 
where  tl 
the  privi 
we  felt  ^ 
this  resu 

Thet] 
of  anyi 
on  the  i 
were  oi 
formed 
White  t] 
little  of 
we  no^ 

Ihac 
like  fori 
ped  in 
planed 
dinner 
of  tobad 
one  in 
comforl 
dow  ai 


I    I 
I 


JERICHO. 


143 


Every 
my  very 

ible  sight. 

ay  several 
Had  he 

I,  he  might 

ent.  Big 
punish  him 
►low  was  a 

given  him 
dit. 

and  Brigh- 

lay  at  a  dis« 

ar  the  road, 

rt  the  stone, 

work  easier 

ird  labor  my 
.     With  my 
[eton  almost, 
less.     Sher- 
•eally  wished 
igly,  one  day 
into  the  car- 
for  one  rea- 
i^illing  now 
to  resist  the 
severe  pun- 
it  be  careful 
would  speak 


10  the  superintendent,  that  my  work  should  be  light, 
such  as  making  barrow  handles,  &c.  The  result 
was,  I  was  soon  transferred  to  the  shop.  At  the 
same  time  six  of  the  number  were  put  upon  the  wood 
cart  to  supply  the  station  with  wood,  which,  having 
only  half  a  mile  to  draw,  was  an  easy  task.  It  gave 
them  also  a  favorable  opportunity  of  receiving  bits 
of  tobacco,  pieces  of  bread,  &c.,  from  the  passers  by. 
Our  other  two  comrades  were  placed  on  the  watch, 
where  they  had  to  keep  guard  through  the  night,  with 
the  privilege  of  sleeping  through  the  day.  Indeed 
we  felt  great  gratitude  to  Sherwood,  by  whose  means 
this  result  had  been  brought  about. 

The  time  we  passed  at  this  station  was  the  first 
of  anything  like  ease  that  we  had  experienced 
on  the  island.  With  all  parties  at  this  place  we 
were  on  pretty  fair  terms.  Our  work  was  per- 
formed faithfully  and  without  grumbling  ;  and  though 
White  tyranized  it  over  the  others,  we  felt  but  a  very 
little  of  it  indeed.  Our  food,  too,  had  improved,  and 
we  now  received  our  full  rations. 

I  had  been  working  on  barrow  handles  and  the 
like  for  several  days,  when  the  superintendent  step- 
ped in  one  morning  and  ordered  some  dry  pine  boards 
planed  for  cart  boxes.  That  noon  as  I  came  from 
dinner  T  procured  a  pipe,  wherewith  to  smoke  a  bit 
of  tobacco  that  had  been  given  me.  I  expected  no 
one  in  the  shop,  and  therefore  was  anticipating  a 
comfortable  smoke.  My  bench  was  before  the  win- 
dow and  at  the  left  of  which  was  the  door.     I  was 


144 


JERICHO. 


,  ( 


puHlng  away  at  a  fair  rate,  when  I  saw  the  tbrrn  o( 
White  pass  the  window,  and  by  the  time  I  could  cast 
my  pipe  on  the  bench  and  brush  a  few  shavings  ever 
it,  he  entered  the  door.  He  was  no  smoker  himsell 
and  could  instantly  detect  the  least  scent  of  tobacco. 
I  had  no  ho})c  now  to  rest  upon  to  keep  me  from  the 
triangle,  unless  it  was  the  faint  one,  that  if  my  pipe 
did  not  betray  itself,  he  might  take  a  notion  not  to 
notice  the  scent,  inasmuch  as  he  saw  nothing.  He 
stopped  a  minute  or  two  to  talk — ^^just  long  enough 
for  the  shavings  to  betray  the  pipe.  "Ah!"  said 
White,  "what  smoke  is  that?"  "Well,"  said  I,  my 
heart  almost  rising  into  my  throat,  "it  is  a  pipe  ;  I 
had  a  bit  of  tobacco  and  I  knew  it  would  be  so  deli- 
cious to  have  a  smoke,  I  thought  I  might,  as  no  ono 
would  probably  see  me."  "But  you  see  I  have 
caught  you  ?"  "  Yes,"  I  replied,  "  but  I  didn't  mean 
you  should,  though."  Said  he,  after  a  moment  or 
two,  "Gates,  I  will  let  you  pass  this  time,  but  do  you 
be  careful  in  future,  for  if  I  catch  you  again  I  shall 
punish  you  severely."  It  was  quite  a  reUef ;  but  I 
was  not  caught  again.  riu-.*   wf^  ^.i^-- 

We  remained  here  about  two  months,  when  we 
again  received  orders  to  prepare  for  a  move.  We 
were  quite  loth  to  leave  this  place — the  only  ono 
where  we  had  received  any  kindness  on  the  whole 
island.  Sherwood  felt  for  us  too.  He  counselled 
us  to  act  well  and  do  our  work  without  grumbling. 
so  long  as  it  might  well  be  borne,  for  we  should  in- 
variably find  it  to  our  advantage,  not  only  for  the  pres- 


JEMCHO. 


145 


ent,  but  when  we  should  receive  our  tickets  of  leave. 
He  strove  to  cheer  us  with  kiud  words,  and  to 
strengthen  our  hearts  to  bear  our  misfortune  as  mnn- 
fully  as  possible.  And  when  we  *cd  he  could  not 
yet  leave  us,  but  accompanied  '<  ^ouple  of  miles. 
He  urged  me  when  I  should  get  .ny  ticket  to  come 
to  him,  and  he  would  try  and  assist  nie.  With  his 
fervent  blessing  upon  us,  we  severally  shook  hands 
with  him,  whilst  the  sympathetic  tears  chased  each 
other  down  his  cheeks.  Nor  were  our  eyes  dry. 
Our  hearts  were  full,  too  full  for  expression,  for  kind- 
ness like  that  of  Sherwood'^  was  to  us  like  a  welcome 
rain  to  the  parched  desert. 


'J.»     V. 


.i'[  / .,      .  .:  '■  '(>i  i'l  ' 


'-/iii  > 


n  J: 


i.'-r 


; 


'J    „ 


10 


*      •,• 


■,  "1 


•'  .      i.o 


-V  \:      '-  : 

1 


t     I 


'iV 


jA  >     ii.,    ■    ■'/'.■'■.  >'  t     .   '    • 

•1      /  -  i.  U.»,*ii      <  i    !>  .'•    \.  !•  j\f,.J-''       '.'4    ii 

•      -it;" 


*;•'.■»    '!  '       !  .      ;  '  /     I  •  i'jt'lJ 


J  >    .  ^"■':4   t 


!»..'<J4i  •.;  Ttin- 


v...'.-  '">;>  -'.;■  -.■;.■■»»  '^',    >'i 


i 

I  1 


:  I 


<jxfH-^'  . 


li 


;•"   :  ■    -.:    (J  H  AFTER     X  jn^  am  ^/^^vVy< 

JERUSALEM     STATION. 

One  day's  travel  brought  us  to  Jerusalem,  distant 
Trom  Jericho  fifteen  miles,  and  upon  the  same  road 
which  was  now  converging  to  the  main  central  road. 
The  huts  here  were  old,  and  delapidated  to  such  n 
degree  that  new  stone  ones  were  being  built.  Pres- 
ently we  learned  the  object  of  our  removal.  A  large 
(quantity  of  rails,  posts,  shingles  and  timber,  were 
wanted  for  use,  and  being  much  handier  with  the  axe, 
we  were  selected  for  this  purpose  ;  myself  and  three 
others  to  split  rails,  &c.,  and  the  remainder  to  hew 
timber.  Our  first  week  was  spent  laboring  about 
the  station.  At  night  we  were  mixed  with  the  old 
hands,  of  which  there  were  a  good  many.  There 
were  in  all  two  hundred  and  fifty  or  more,  of  which 
a  jjart  had  been  on  the  roads  but  about  '.wo  months. 
They  were  variously  engaged  on  the  road,  on  the 
huts,  and  in  making  improvements  about  the  station. 

It  was  in  old  times  that  the  traveller  went  from 
Jerusalem  to  Jericho  and  fell  among  thieves ;  but 
noio  the  thieves  thronged  in  Jerusalem,  and  we  suf- 
lored  more  or  less  from  their  depredations,  for  they 
wore  so  bold  as  actually  to  attempt  to  steal  the  shirts 


»  !     .     1 

I'  'A 


distant 
lie  road 
al  road. 

such  tt 
Pros- 
A  large 
jr,  were 
.  the  axe, 
md  three 
r  to  hew 
ng  about 
1  the  old 

There 
of  which 
months. 
:!,  on  the 
3  station . 
ent  from 
es ;  but 
1  we  suf- 
for  they 
the  shirtii 


JERUSALEM!. 


147 


from  our  backs.  If  one  had  a  shilling  in  his  pocket 
it  was  sure  to  find  its  way  into  his  neighbor's.  Noth- 
ing was  at  all  safe  unless  on  the  body,  and  not  then 
at  all  times.  To  be  sure,  we  had  nothing  of  conse- 
<^)uence  to  lose,  save  our  one  wardrobe  and  extra  shirt, 
but  that  little  was  our  all,  and  the  loss  of  any  part  of 
which,  by  whatever  means,  subjected  us  to  a  severe 
punishment. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  week  the  magistrate,  Cap- 
tain Foster,  called  and  enquired  for  the  Canadian  pris- 
oners. At  last  he  found  us  out,  talked  with  us  con- 
siderably, and  appeared  quite  friendly.  He  repri- 
manded the  superintendent  for  not  giving  us  a  hut 
by  ourselves,  in  conformity  to  the  orders  of  the  chief 
superintendent.  Jenkins,  though,  in  this  instance 
was  not  so  much  to  blame  as  he  was  ignorant  on  the 
subject.  Afterward  we  enjoyed  a  hut  of  our  own  ; 
but  w€  were  obliged  to  take  our  extra  shirt,  or  what- 
ever else  we  had,  with  us  to  our  work,  in  order  to 
keep  possession.  Jenkins  remained  three  weeks 
after  our  arrival,  when  he  was  superceded  by  White, 
from  Jericho.  ^'''  ^-^"^  ^'  "'^^    -'^-^^  "'^'  ^- 

Taking  the  bush  at  this  station,  as  at  the  last,  was 
of  frequent  occurrence,  and  as  a  consequence  there 
was  a  great  deal  of  punishment.  I  shall  mention 
but  one  case-— that  of  a  strong,  athletic  man,  about 
the  same  size  of  Big  Sandy— ^who  was  flagellatorat 
this  station  also.  This  man  was  sentenced  to  sev- 
enty-five lashes  for  taking  the  bush.  As  the  flagel- 
lator  was  tying  him  to  the  triangle,  he  remarked  to 


H 


'■'I 


148 


JERUSALEM. 


!!• 


i 


^m\ 


[ 

1 

li 

1 

1  ■ 

■ 
i 

him  :  "  Well,  Sandy,  you  can  do  your  duty  to  me, 
for  I  have  no  cixjwn  nor  half-crown  to  pay  for  light 
strokes,  and  if  I  had,  I  don't  know  as  I  should  let  you 
have  it.  This  speech  rather  piqued  the  man  of  the 
cat,  who  was  a  fierce  fellow  to  punish,  and  who  had 
the  reputation  of  being  the  most  cruel  flagellator  on 
the  whole  island.  Whilst  the  man  was  being  stripped 
for  the  punishment,  I  noticed  he  conveyed  a  musket 
ball,  which  he  happened  to  have,  from  his  pocket  to 
his  mouth — for  what  purpose,  at  the  moment  I  could 
scarcely  imagine.  It  was  usually  the  custom,  par- 
ticularly when  the  prisoner  was  to  be  severely  pun- 
ished, that  the  doctor  should  stand  by  and  intimate 
where  the  strokes  should  fall.  The  flagellatr.;  seem- 
ed to  gather  up  his  energies  for  the  task,  and  truly 
did  he  do  the  tyrant's  work  most  effectually.  Never 
had  I  seen,  of  all  the  flagellations  that  I  had  witnessed, 
one  that  equalled  it  in  barbarity.  Sandy  applied  the 
cat  with  what  strength  he  was  able,  every  blow  of 
which  made  the  blood  gush,  and  as  he  drew  back  the 
instrument  at  each  blow,  he  would  pass  the  cat  through 
his  left  hand,  from  which  the  blood  would  drip  in 
streams.  The  victim's  back  was  a  raw,  mangled 
mangled  piece  of  flesh,  from  which  the  blood  had  run 
in  such  quantities  as  to  fill  his  shoes  till  they  gushed 
over.  Yet  through  it  all  he  never  emitted  a  groan 
or  a  word,  or  even  scarcely  cringed.  At  the  close 
of  the  punishment,  the  bullet  dropped  from  his  moath. 
compressed  and  dissevered  into  several  fragments* 
and  whpn  he  vroa  unloosed  he  could  not  staud,  but 


JERUSALEM. 


149 


|to  me, 
light 
et  you 
af  the 
ho  had 
tor  on 
tripped 
Imusket 
cket  to 
I  could 
Im,  par- 
ly pun- 
ntimate 
•  I'seem- 
id  truly 
Never 
itnessed, 
)lied  the 
blow  of 
back  the 
through 
[  drip  in 
mangled 
I  had  run 
r  gushed 
a  groan 
;he  close 
smocUh, 
igments, 
taud,  but 


had  to  be  conveyed  to  the  hospital,  where  he  remained 
five  weeks.  He  was  then  taken  out  and  placed  again 
at  work,  though  so  weak  and  sore  that  he  could  scarce- 
ly lift  his  hand  to  labor.  In  a  few  days  he  again 
took  the  bush — was  again  caught,  and  sentenced  to 
thirty  days  solitary  ;  which  had  no  sooner  expired, 
than  he  took  the  bush  the  third  time,  and  vv^as  the 
third  time  taken,  and  sentenced  to  Port  Arthur.  He 
was  a  hardened  man,  of  indomitable  spirit,  that  re- 
fused to  bear  the  tyrany  of  White,  who  for  some 
reason  had  a  strong  antipathy  against  him,  and  who 
strove  by  every  means  almost  to  crush  his  victim. 
And  for  this  reason  he  took  the  bush,  that  he  might 
escape,  or  if  not  escaping,  that  he  might  be  sentenced' 
Away.  *  *'  •  ••  ■  i'  tf.  !»*•■  '1^  V  -  ii'  \.ii:'f:n  •  ■ '■  '< 
After  the  first  we^^k  we  were  sent  fiv6  miles  into 
the  forest,  to  a  ridge  of  ground,  there  called  "tier,"  to 
split  rails,  &c.  The  hewing  gang  only  went  three 
miles.  We  were  furnished  our  rations,  which  we 
had  the  privilege  of  cooking  ourselves.  No  over- 
seer or  other  minion  accompanied  us,  so  that  we  had 
comparativ?iy  easy  times.  Our  daily  task  was  cut- 
ting and  splitting  twenty-five  rails  or  posts  each  in  a 
day  ;  so  that  fi'equently  we  had  a  little  leisure  time 
to  spend  in  rest  qr  amusement,  and  in  talking  of  our 
homes  and  friends,  far,  far  away,  o'er  the  billowy 
eea.  The  timber  we  used  was  the  stringy  bark,  so 
called,  I  believe,  from  the  tough  nature  of  its  bark, 
which,  in  its  outward  appearance,  somewhat  resem- 
bles our  white  or  rock  elm,  and  like  it,  is  sometimes 


M'l 


s 

{ 

f ' 

i 

• 

\ 

i 

150 


JERUSALEM. 


used  to  roof  buildings.  The  tree  often  grows  from 
twelve  to  fifteen  feet  in  circumference,  towering  up- 
ward somewhat  like  our  pine,  with  leaves  larger  than 
our  willow,  which  they  much  resemble.  The  tex- 
ture of  the  wood  much  resembles  our  elm,  and  it  is 
generally  rather  toi  i^h  to  split.  The  shingles,  which 
are  not  shaved,  are  ©plit  from  the  peppermint,  which 
is  a  very  free  rifted  wood,  resembling  in  appearance 
our  red  beech,  though  much  softer  in  texture.  The 
bark  is  like  that  of  the  bitfernut,  or  smoothe  bark 
walnut.  It  grows  to  a  large  size,  is  a  tall  tree,  pre- 
senting much  the  appearance  of  ine  stringy  bark. 

The  kangaroo  were  thick,  and  occasionally  we 
succeeded  in  snaring  one ;  but  we  had  to  be  exceed- 
ingly cautious  in  the  disposal  of  it,  lest  we  should  be 
discovered'and  suffer  punishment.  The  animal  feeds 
upon  grass,  and  its  flesh,  at  least  to  us  half-starved 
men,  was  delicious.  They  have  their  paths  or  run- 
ways, over  which  they  travel  in  passing  to  and  fro 
from  their  pasturage  and  watering  places.  These 
paths  are  sought  out  and  the  snares  placed  therein. 
A  stake  is  driven  into- the  ground  close  beside  the 
path,  over  which  a  wire,  attached  at  one  end  to  a 
clog,  is  passed,  ending  in  a  slipping-noose,  project- 
ing just  far  enough  and  at  such  a  height  as  will  re- 
ceive the  head  of  the  simple-minded  and  unsuspect- 
ing kangaroo,  as  it  passes  to  'Or  from  its  drink  in 
the  night.  The  motion  of  the  animal  is  enough  to 
tighten  the  noose,  and  whether  it  go  forward  or  back- 
ward, it  is  soon  strangled.  ^?'    '/^'^  **^  '•  •«* 


5S1 


JERUSALEM. 


151 


i  from 

ng  up- 

er  than 

lie  tex- 

nd  it  is 

,  which 

,  which 

3arance 

The 

he  bark 

fee,  pre- 

bark.- 

ally  we 

I  exceed- 

ihould  be 

nal  feeds 

f-starved 

s  or  run- 

3  and  fro 

'"These 

therein. 

Bside  the 

end  to  a 

project- 

3  will  re- 

[isuspect- 

drink  in 

nough  to 

i  or  back- 


John  Thomas,  one  of  our  companions,  while  at 
this  place  met  with  aseiious  hurt.  Accidentally  his 
axe  glanced,  completely  severing  the  foot  from  near 
the  instep  to  the  httle  toe.  John  Morisett  and  myself 
carried  him  on  our  shoulders  to  the  station,  where  he 
lay  in  the  hospital  during  the  remainder  of  our  stay 
at  this  place. 

Time  went  wearily  with  us  at  Jerusalem.  Al- 
though the  name  might  be  dear  to  every  Israeliiish 
heart,  yet  for  us  it  had  no  such  magic  power.  It  was 
every  thing  else,  for  we  were  captives — captives  even 
in  Jerusalem — panting  for  the  breezes  of  freedom. 
Almost  two  years  had  we  been  suffering  in  cruel 
bondage,  bowed  down,  aye,  almost  crushed  with  tyr- 
anny. We  had  been  promised  a  boon  at  the  expi- 
ration of  our  probation — a  boon  that  our  masters  had 
held  before  us  as  the  next  thing  to  liberty,  and  in 
fact  quite  the  thing  itself.  Those  days  were  draw- 
ing nigh  ;  and  in  our  anxious  longings  we  counted 
the  leaden-footed  hours  that  crept  by  us  slow-paced, 
till  we  were  so  impatient  of  the  delay  that  we  quite 
worked  ourselves  into  a  fever  of  excitement.   •   •      '• 

At  last  the  time  came.  The  two  years  had  sped 
ihcir  account  to  that  tribunal  which  o'erjudgelh  all. 
Notice  was  received  in  the  Government  Gazette  that 
wc  wore  due  ''tickets-of-leave,"  which  we  could  ob- 
tain by  repairing  to  the  magistrate  at  Oatland.  This 
was  on  a  Saturday.  We  now  felt  happier  than  we 
had  yet,  for  we  could  go  where  we  chose  on  the 
island — got  what  employment  we  could — lay  up  so 


fi 


f 


152 


JERUSALEM. 


I'  I 


flR| 


»>lJ 


1 .1 


much  of  our  earnings  as  we  might,  and  eventually 
succeed  in  obtaining  our  liberty.  These  we  ima- 
gined were  to  be  some  of  the  fruits  that  would  spring 
from  our  tickets.  What  sort  of  a  harvest  we  reaped, 
will  be  presently  seen.  I  asked  and  obtained  leave 
to  go  the  next  day  to  Jericho,  for  the  purpose  of  vis- 
iting Sherwood.  Our  meeting  was  Hke  the  meeting 
of  long  absent  friends.  I  spent  what  time  I  could 
with  him,  and  when  I  left  I  was  fitted  out  with  a 
nice  suit  of  clothes,  the  free  will  offering  of  our  warm 
hearted  friend  Shervood.  I  felt  more  thankful  to 
my  benefactor  than  I  had  words  to  express.  I  ob- 
tained warm  water,  soap,  &c.,  and  gave  my  whole 
person  a  thorough  cleansing,  which  was  the  first  op- 
portunity I  had  had  since  my  capture  at  the  Wind- 
mill, of  freeing  myself  frorr  ♦he  vermin  that  had  con- 
tinually infested  my  person  in  greater  or  ^ess  quan- 
tities. This  being  done,  and  dressed  in  the  suit 
which  my  friend  had  given  me,  I  felt  once  more  like 
a  man.  •    - 

On  Monday  we  left  Jerusalem  and  all  its  thieves, 
without  regret,  and  made  our  way  to  Oatland,  a  town 
of  some  importance  near  the  centre  of  the  island, 
and  on  the  road  from  Hobart  town  to  Launceston, 
distant  from  Jerusalem  eight  miles — having  spent  our 
two  years  of  probation  on  the  roads,  viz  :  about  four 
months  at  Sandy  Bay,  three  at  Lovely  lianks,  eight 
at  Green  Ponds,  one  at  Bridgewater,  two  at  Jericho 
and  six  at  Jerusalem. 


'<  Kl    »■- 


•I     t  » 


•  '  -v 


' 


:l 


[ntually 
re  i  ma- 
spring 
[reaped, 
id  leave 
of  vis- 
[meeting 
I  could 
t  with  a 
ur  warm 
mkful  to 
.     I  ob- 
ly  whole 
!  first  op- 
le  Wind- 
■  had  con- 
ess  quan- 
the  suit 
more  like 

s  thieves, 
id,  a  town 
le  island, 
unceston, 
spent  our 
ibout  four 
aks,  eight 
U  Jericho 


t^;,/.  ^      '  ^.-i'--- 


' 


•  J- 


•■  /. 


.  I     I 


CHAPTER     XI 


-,  U»  ' 


TICKET    OP    LEAVE WORK    FOR    TABART. 

We  repaired  to  White  foot,  the  magistrate's,  office 
and  reported  ourselves  due  tickets  of  leave,  present- 
ing a  certificate  to  that  effect  from  the  superintend- 
ent. We  were  asked  several  questions,  and  our 
names,  ages,  &c.,  enrolled  on  a  book  as  ticket  of  leave 
men.  But  instead  of  having  the  rang',  of  the  whole 
island,  we  found  we  were  to  be  confired  to  one  dis- 
trict, the  choice  of  which  was  given  to  us.  The  pre- 
text assigned  for  this  change,  was  tho  escape  but  a 
short  time  before  of  Chandler  and  Wait  from  the  is- 
land. The  government  seemed  fearfu  •  that  we  might 
gather  at  some  favorable  place,  and  by  some  fortu- 
nate concurrence  of  circumstances  tak  ;  sudden  leave, 
so  we  were  distributed  as  much  as  possible  and  con- 
fined to  separate  districts.  This  wa  a  drawback  to 
our  warm  anticipations;  still  we  cou  1  but  feel  it  a 
privilege  to  have  only  one  district  to  roam  in,  free 
from  the  merciless  road  taskers.  F  om  the  fact  of 
having  a  warm  friend  (Sherwood)  in  iiis  district,  and 
it  appealing  in  other  respects  to  b  as  favorable  a 
place  as  any  on  the  island  for  sec  ^  ring  work,*  we 
chose  Oatlaiul,  when  to  each  of  us  w  as  given  a  pass 


1  ! 


154 


TICKET    OF    LEAVE. 


\ 

I- 

i  ■ 

t|ii 

i 

' 

f ' 

V 

H 

J 

L 

i'    '■ 

that  would  last  three  days.  If  we  found  no  employ- 
ment in  that  time,  we  were  to  return  and  get  it  re- 
newed for  another  three  days,  and  if  wo  succeeded 
in  finding  work,  then  were  we  to  return  and  report 
ourselves.  When  we  left  his  oflice,  Whitefoot  ad- 
vised us  to  demean  ourselves  in  all  reepects  accord- 
ing to  law — to  appear  contented,  and  be  industrious. 
If  our  behavior  was  circjmspect,  he  assured  us  he 
liad  not  tlie  least  doubt  but  we  should  ere  long  receive 
full  pardons.  .,.  ^  iyifi,,'-'\' 

Wo  went  forth,  but  day  after  day  were  we  turned 
away,  and  no  employment  could  we  secure  for  three 
weeks.  During  that  time  we  wandered  up  and  down, 
shelterless  and  foodless.  If  we  approached  a  set- 
tlor's house  and  asked  if  we  could  obtain  work,  wo 
were  gruffly  met  with  a  negative.  If  we  supplicated 
for  a  morsel  of  food,  we  were  yet  more  gruffly  re- 
fused and  ordered  off — "for  beggars  were  so  thick 
they  could  not  harbor  any  of  the  lazy  vagabonds.''- 
Not  a  mouthful  of  food  did  we  receive  from  a  farmer 
in  all  that  time,  nor  could  we  get  the  privilege  of 
working  a  single  day,  even  for  a  meal  of  victuals — ^ 
nor  would  they  give  us  any  shelter  at  night.  Now 
and  then  we  received  a  spare  mouthful  from  the  la- 
borers, who  were  themselves  allowed  but  stinted  ra- 
tions, and  who  after  dark  would  suffer  us  to  crawl 
into  their  huts  with  them.  What  little  food  we  were 
able  to  procure,  was  obtained  from  roots,  and  occa- 
sionally from  potatoe  and  turnip  fields,  which,  had. 
wo  been  discovered  at  it,  would  have  subjected  us  to* 


TICKET    OF    LEAVE. 


155 


jmpk)}'- 
et  it  re- 
jceeded 
I  report 
bot  ad- 
accord - 
strious. 
i  us  he 
receive 

turned 
)r  three 
i  down, 
d  a  set- 
)rk,  we 
ilicatcd 
[fly  re- 

0  thick 
onds."' 
farmer 
lege  of 
uals —  ^ 

Now 
the  la- 
ted  ra- 
i  crawl 
c  were 

1  occa- 
h,  had. 
i  us  to- 


severe  punishment.  Whatever  the  laws  may  be. 
the  desperation  of  hunger  will  drive  man  to  hreak 
them  to  satisfy  its  insatiate  cravings.  When  we  se- 
cured a  potatoe  or  two,  or  accidentally  found  a  kan- 
garoo snared,  or  succeeded  in  capturing  one  our- 
selves, we  sought  the  most  secluded  place  possible 
and  cautiously  built  a  fire  wherewith  to  roast  them. 
This,  too,  was  in  violation  of  the  law,  for  the  prison- 
er, or  ticket-of-leave  man,  was  not  allowed  to  kindle 
even  the  slightest  fire.  Yet  we  did  it,  because  wc 
could  not  well  do  without  it.  Almost  every  night 
we  were  forced  to  lie  in  the  bush.  At  such  times 
the  atmosphere  is  cold  even  to  suflfering,  and  to  keep 
ourselves  in  a  measure  comfortable,  we  sought  the 
most  obscure  place  and  kindled  a  small  blaze  around 
which  we  huddled.  Once  or  twice  wc  were  hailed 
by  constables  :  "  Whose  there  ?"  "  Ticket-of-leave 
h  an."  Continuing  their  advance,  they  inquired  why 
we  had  kindled  a  fire.  We  answered,  we  were  seek- 
ing work,  which  we  could  not  yet  find,  neither  shel- 
ter  nor  food,  and  consequently  were  compelled  to 
lay  in  the  wood,  and  we  had  built  the  fire  to  keep 
warm.  "You  must  put  out  the  fire."  "But  what 
shall  we  do  ?"  "  Get  into  the  huts  of  the  laborers." 
"  But  if  their  masters  find  it  out  we  shall  be  punished 
for  that"  Still  our  fire  must  be  put  out,  and  we  obliged 
to  pass  the  remainder  of  the  night  chilled  and  benumb- 
ed to  such  a  degree  that  we  could  scarcely  move. 
Returning  the  eighth  time  dispirited  to  Oatland 
for  a  renewal  of  my  pass,  I  was  informed  by  White . 


I 


r;il 


156 


AT    TABARt's. 


foot  i!..*t  r.  settler  by  the  name  of  Tabart,  who  wished 
to  obtaiii  a  hand,  had  left  word  to  have  me  call  on 
him.  W(3  had  previously  been  to  this  same  settler, 
and  been  turned  away  because  he  didn't  want  any 
more  heli'.  But  it  appeared  he  had  since  learned 
something;  of  our  charncter,  and  that  wc  were  not 
like  the  j:  e.ierality  of  other  prisoners.  For  this  luck 
I  was  in 'ebted  to  my  friend  at  Jericho,  who  had  par- 
ticularly recommended  me  to  this  Tabart.  Accord- 
ingly I  called  at  his  house,  twelve  miles  distant,  and 
soon  agroed  to  work  for  him  one  year  for  £8.  My 
other  comrades  had  just  before  agreed  with  another 
settler,  by  the  name  of  Comode,  to  take  a  quantity  of 
land  iy  till  on  shares.  This  man  had  talked  very 
fair  indeed,  promising  to  furnish  them  with  teams, 
utensils  and  seed,  and  allow  them  half  the  products. 
They  were  quite  sanguine  of  success,  and  were  ur- 
gent tb  xt  I  should  join  them  also.  But  I  felt  suspi- 
cious tliey  would  not  come  out  so  well  at  the  last, 
and  chose  to  follow  the  advice  of  Sherwood,  and  have 
nothinf»'  to  do  with  working  land  on  shares,  recom- 
mendivg  the  same  course  to  them.  They  were  af- 
terwards joined  by  four  others  of  our  original  num- 
ber. Poor  Thomas,  who  had  managed  to  hobble 
about  on  his  crutch,  was  taken  into  the  company 
and  injitalled  as  cook,  with  a  right  to  an  equal  share 
of  the  profits.  They  toiled  faithfully  and  worked 
hard,  bat  found  themselves  at  last  not  receiving  a  div- 
idend, but  in  debt  to  Comode.  '*  '  -  '? 
Tftbart  was  a  man  of  about  fifty-five  years — had  p 


AT    TABART'fl. 


157 


)  wished 

call  on 
J  settler, 
ant  any 

learned 
vere  not 
this  luck 
had  par- 
Accord- 
ant, and 
9,     My 

another 
antity  of 
ted  very 
h  teams, 
iroducts. 
were  ur- 
5lt  suspi- 

the  last. 
and  have 
I,  recom- 
were  at- 
lal  num- 
0  hobble 

company 

lal  share 

worked 

ng  a  diV' 

3 — had  {I 


family,  consisting  of  a  wife,  two  sons,  and  tour  daugh- 
ters. The  girls  were  ordinarily  handsome,  and  to 
men  in  our  situation  quite  affable.  There,  particu- 
larly for  a  womar.,  to  speak  with  a  prisoner,  is  con- 
sidered a  disgrace.  They  entertain  high  notions  of 
honor,  shunning  the  person  of  him  who  is  a  convict 
with  almost  as  much  dread  as  the  cold  Brahmin  of 
India  would  that  of  the  djspised  Sudras.         f    .    ' 

From  Tabavt  and  his  whole  family  I  received  quite 
fair  treatment,  and  of  which  I  had  no  great  cause  to 
complain.  So  long  as  his  men  performed  their  tasks 
well  and  without  grumbling,  he  was  not  over  tyrani- 
cal.  But  if  one  complained,  ho  was  sure  to  feel  the 
displeasure  of  his  master,  who  nt  such  times  seemed 
much  exasperated  and  indeed  dealt  with  a  cruel 
hand.     ,j  i:,  •ir     .  {ryu*  i  <j  n-^i  {^i'.a  -"•  j  '.»t.(t 

.!  Apparently  I  was  thought  much  of  by  him,  and 
was  accordingly  advanced  to  the  overseership  when 
I  had  been  with  him  three  months.  This  change 
relieved  me  of  much  toil  and  promoted  me  to  a  resi- 
dence in  the  house,  where  I  had  far  better  fare  than 
I  had  yet  experienced.  Generally  those  who  work 
by  the  year  for  settlers  are  ticket-of-leave  men,  wlio 
have  their  range  of  huts  at  a  short  distance  from  the 
house.  They  have  their  rations,  which  are  generally 
but  a  littlo  more  in  quantity,  tand  sometimes  not  much 
better  in  quality,  than  on  the  public  works.  They 
have  the  advantage  of  lighter  work,  and  aro  not  usu- 
ally so  hard  driven,  while  they  have  the  benefit  of 
light  wages,    ,,,.  v-  '*  m^df  v    ,  :f6\ '^  >'^  -*r^L. 


158 


AT    T abort's. 


I      ' 


)  ■■   I 


Tabart's  estate  included  an  area  of  four  thousand 
acres,  three  liundred  only  of  which  were  cultivated. 
the  remainder  being  forest  and  used  for  pasturage. 
The  woods  there  are  clothed  in  perpetual  green,  and 
the  ground  beneath  is  not  strewed  with  dead  leaves, 
but  carpeted  with  wild  grass  that  affords  sustenance 
to  herds  and  Hocks.  The  number  of  sheep  i)ossess- 
od  by  my  employer  was  ten  thousand.  He  also  had 
one  hundred  head  of  cattle.  The  sheep  are  placerl 
under  the  care  of  shepheixls,  in  flocks  of  one  thous- 
t  nd  each.  The  shepherd  is  furnished  with  a  gun 
and  ammunition,  to  protect  his  flock  from  wild  dogs 
and  other  animals.  He  lives  in  a  hut  situated  with- 
in his  range,  which  is  defined  by  a  brush  fence,  or  a 
fence  composed  of  dry  and  decayed  logs.  On  the 
t'arm  he  had  ten  to  fifteen  men  employed  in  the  till- 
age of  the  ground,  securing  the  crops,  and  in  making 
and  repairing  fences,  dec.  Besides,  he  had  an  hostler. 
a  butler,  a  cook,  a  gardener  and  two  kitchen  maids. 
These  had  the  privilege  of  the  kitchen,  with  good  and 
well-cooked  victuals,  and  with  them  I  also  messed. 
I  had  now  to  work  but  little—my  business  being  the 
oversight  of  the  farm,  &c.,  yet  I  had  to  give  a  strict 
daily  account  to  Tabart,  who  was  evidently  placing 
more  and  more  confidence  in  my  integrity,       '     ^ 

During  my  stay  with  him  he  was  building  a  large 
stone  house.  The  carpenter  had  become  indebted 
to  me  in  the  sum  of  ten  shillings,  which  was  a  small 
sum  to  be  sure;  but  one  in  my  situation  would  think 
more  of  a  few  shillings  than  they  would  at  home  of 


Nt 


AT    TABART  H. 


159 


thousarnl 
ultivnted. 
asturn/i;c. 
reeii,  and 
1(1  leaves, 
istenance 
possess- 
also  had 
re  })lace'd 
no  thous- 
th   a  gun 
wild  dogs 
ited  with- 
mce,  or  a 
On  the 
n  the  till- 
n  making 
m  hostler, 
;n  nnaids. 
good  and 
5  nnessed. 
being  the 
ve  a  strict 
y  placing 

ig  a  large 

indebted 

IS  a  small 

)uld  think 

home  of 


so  many  hundreds  of  thoni.  So  when  ho  wont  down 
to  Oatland  to  draw  his  pay,  I  was  anxious  to  go  also, 
for  I  knew  he  was  a  poor  drunken  fellow,  that  would 
spend  it  all  in  carousing,  and  unless  I  could  find  him 
flush  in  the  pocket  I  should  stand  u  very  slim  chance 
indeed.  Accordingly  when  he  went  down  on  Sat- 
urday afternoon,  I  obtained  leave  and  followed  him 
on  foot  a  little  before  sundown.  I  had  twelve  miles 
to  walk,  and  as  a  ticket-of-leave  man  it  was  my  duty 
to  report  myself  to  the  police  immediately  on  my  ar- 
rival, stating  my  objects  in  coming  and  the  time  of 
my  stay  ;  nor  could  1  be  allowed  in  the  street  after 
night  o'clock.  If  found  out  after  that  time,  the  man 
is  thrust  into  the  watch-house,  from  whence  he  is 
taken  before  the  magistrate  who  sentences  him  to 
some  punishment.  But  with  all  my  efforts,  eight 
o'clock  arrived  and  I  was  nol  yet  in  town.  Here 
^vas  a  dilemma.  My  anxiety  for  my  money  was  so 
«;rcat  that  1  continued  on,  hoping  by  some  means  to 
avoid  detection.  I  knew  where  I  should  probably 
iind  the  carpejitev,  and  I  knew  too  that  if  I  went  to 
the  police  first,  I  should  fail  of  seeing  him  that  night, 
and  probably  fail  in  getting  the  ten  shillings.  1  ac- 
cordingly kept  on,  and  succeeded  in  finding  the  man 
and  in  obtaining  my  pay.  He  was  then  carousing 
with  several  boon  companions.  I  intended  then  to 
leave,  and  if  possible  make  my  way  a  little  out  of 
town  to  a  friend's  house,  where  I  would  stay  till 
niorning,  when  I  would  report  myself  as  just  arrived, 
iiut  the  people  heie   insisted  I  should  stay,  and  not. 


160 


AT    TABART'S. 


V      i 


V 


..   t 

1 

1 

■i 

« 

go  out  to  expose  myself  to  danger  in  the  street.  I 
yielded  to  their  persuasion  and  soon  retired  to  bed. 
I  had  not  lain  long  when  a  dispute  arose  among  the 
men,  and  fearing  some  danger  I  again  got  up. 

It  appeared  they  had  drunk  up  what  liquor  there 
was  in  the  house,  and  were  about  sending  for  more, 
when  the  mistress  denied  them  the  privile3'e  of  spree 
ing  it  there  any  longer.  The  carpenter  tauntingly 
told  her  she  was  only  afraid  of  getting  the  money — 
"but  there  is  the  change,"  said  he,  as  he  thrust  a 
handful  on  the  table,  when  turning  to  one  of  his  com- 
panions  he  bade  him  go  and  get  the  liquor.  But  the 
woman  interposed  at  the  door,  calling  upon  her  hus- 
band, who  was  in  bed,  for  help.  At  this  juncture  the 
constables  burst  into  the  room,  whilst  the  men  fled, 
leaving  me  alone.  Unsuspecting  any  wrong  on  my 
part,  the  men  of  function  at  first  took  me  for  the  vic- 
tim of  a  robbery,  and  asked  me  if  that  was  my  money 
on  the  table  ;  to  which  question  I  gave  a  negative 
answer.  They  quickly  saw  I  was  not  a  proper  per- 
son there,  when  they  invited  me  over  to  the  watch 
house,  whither  I  was  forced  to  go  much  against  my 
inclination.  On  the  way  my  friends,  the  constables, 
urged  me  quite  strenuously  to  declare  the  money  was 
mine,  and  that  I  had  been  robbe.l  of  it.  They  told 
me  it  would  be  of  great  advantage — that  they  could 
secure  and  punish  the  men,  whilst  I  should  escape. 
However,  I  withstood  their  seductions,  declaring  as 
the  money  was  none  of  mine  I  should  lay  no  chum 
to  it  as  such.     1  expected  certain  punishment — that 


\\ 


3  street.  1 
ired  to  bed. 
among  the 
)t  up. 

iquor  there 
g  for  more, 
3'e  of  spree 
•  tauntingly 
le  money — 
he  thrust  a 
I  of  his  cou> 
r.  But  the 
on  her  hus- 
juncture  the 
e  men  fled, 
rong  on  my 
}  for  the  vic- 
s  my  money 
i  a  negative 
,  proper  per- 
0  the  watch 

against  iny 
3  constables, 
)  money  was 

They  told 
.  they  could 
>uld  escape. 
JecJaring  as 
ay  no  chum 
iment — that 


AT  tabart's. 

at  least  my  ticket  of  leave  would  be  broken 
self  sent  either  to  Port  Arthur  or  bac 


and 


161 


my- 
again  to  the 

roads.  It  may  well  be  imagined,  then,  that  these 
strong  forebodings  gave  me  no  very  pleasant  feel- 
ings ;  besides,  I  was  galled  exceedingly  by  being 
thrust  in  again  among  the  vermin  and  filth  of  a  watch 
house,  since  I  had  succeeded  in  getting  my  person 
free  from  those  pests,  and  had  therefore  felt  more 
human-hke. 

A  friend  who  was  going  out  past  Tabart's  called 
on  me  in  the  morning  and  ofl?ered  to  convey  any  in- 
telligence I  wished  to  send.  I  accordingly  wrote  a 
line  to  my  employer,  giving  him  information  of  the 
circumstances  and  trouble  into  which  I  had  fallen. 
He  immediately  addressed  the  magistrate  (he  was 
one  himself)  in  my  favor,  teUing  him  as  I  was  a 
great  favorite  of  his,  and  an  overseer  on  his  farm,  he 
hoped  he  would  be  easy  with  me — give  me  perhaps 
a  reprimand  and  send  me  back,  and  for  his  kindness 
he  should  receive  a  fine  roast  pig.  Monday  in  the 
afternoon  I  was  brought  before  the  magistrate,  when 
I  repeated  to  him  the  facts  of  my  case.  I  was  ac- 
cordingly reprimanded  and  sent  away,  with  the  in- 
junction to  be  careful  how  I  got  again  in  a  like  scrape; 
but  as  I  had  borne  a  good  character,  and  had  not 
been  arraigned  but  once  before  a  magistrate,  his 
honor  felt  disposed  to  be  thus  lenient.  But  when  I 
afterward  learned  the  import  of  Tabart's  line,  I  thought 
verily  that  the  savory  smell  of  "  roast  pig"  wrought 

more  on  his  honor's  clemency  than  did  my  "good  be- 
ll 


■1% 


!?  f 


havior."  That,  however,  was  my  last  adventure 
before  a  magistrate.  I  was  welcomod  back  by  my 
employer,  who  with  a  smile  accosted  me  :  "  Well, 
Willi<im,  which  is  the  Lest — home,  or  tlie  watch 
house  ?"  "  Home,  to  be  sure,"  said  I.  "  Well,  you 
may  thank  me  for  this  escape,"  he  replied,  and  good 
naturedly  bade  me  go  about  my  business. 

Sheep  shearing  commenced  with  us  about  the  first 
of  October,  lasting  generally  one  and  two  months. 
An  expert  hand  would  clip  one  hundred  in  a  day, 
though  a  good  day's  work  is  from  sixty  to  eight}'. 
The  sheep  to  be  sheared  are  driven  at  night  under  a 
long  shed  to  shelter  them  from  the  heavy  dew. 
From  this  shed  a  door  opens  to  the  shearing  floor, 
which  is  sufficiently  large  for  ten  or  fifteen  men  to 
work  upon.  I  had  never  sheared  a  sheep.  I  was 
engaged  rolling  and  sorting  the  fleeces,  when  one 
day  Tabart  being  by  and  in  quite  a  pleasant  mood, 
bade  me  try  the  shears  and  learn.  He  was  himself 
an  excellent  shearer.  I  rather  demurred,  for  I  was 
fearful  of  doing  something  wrong,  whereby  I  should 
get  his  displeasure  ;  but  he  had  already  caught  mc  a 
fine,  open  wooled  wether,  and  there  was  no  other 
v/ay  tiian  to  attempt.  He  gave  me  the  necessary 
instructions,  but  I  made  most  awkv.'ard  work  of  it, 
which  gave  Tabart  a  deal  of  merriment.  Said  he  : 
''Dont  bo  afiaid,  Gates;  just  shove  the  shears  in." 
And  sure  enough  I  did  shove  them  in — not  into  the 
wool  precisely,  but  deeper — into  the  bowels  of  the 
sheep,     *' That  was  a  fair  stroke,  Gates,"  said  he  a.-j 


AT    TAUART's. 


163 


Lclvcnturc 
k  ])y  my 
'^  Well, 
he  watcli 
Well,  you 
aiul  goo'J 

it  the  first 
")  months, 
in  a  day, 
to  cightj\ 
It  under  a 
avy  dew. 
ing  floor, 
n  men  to 
p.  I  was 
when  one 
ant  mood, 
as  himself 

for  I  was 
Y  I  should 
ught  mc  a 

no  other 
necessary 
r'ork  of  it, 

Said  he  : 
ienrs  in." 
>t  into  the 
els  of  th^' 
said  he  a.-> 


1  began  to  apologize  ;  "  never  mind,  never  mind,  we 
shall  have  a  mess  of  mutton  for  dinner.  I  intended 
killing  one  myself;  so  you  were  just  fortunate  enough 
to  save  me  the  trouble."  And  catching  another,  he 
bade  me  try  again ;  which  1  did,  with  better  success, 
iiftcrward  1  kept  |>racticing,  till  1  could  shear  tv/cnty- 
fivo  and  thirty  in  a  day  before  the  season  was  gone. 

Soon  after  the  shearing  is  over  the  wool  is  sent  to 
market.  Tabart  was  anxious  I  shouM  market  his 
clip,  but  there  was  a  dilhculty  in  the  way.  Our  par- 
ty had  been  strictly  prohibited  from  going  into  Ho- 
bart  town  or  Launceston.  Tabart  however  saw 
Whitefoot,  who  wrote  to  Ilobart  on  the  matter,  and 
received  answer  that  Taba:.!  might  have  the  privi- 
lege, provided  he  would  give  security  for  my  good 
conduct.  This  he  quickly  did,  and  soon  after  I  was 
on  my  way  to  Hobart  town,  with  three  dray  loads  of 
wool,  each  load  weighing  some  three  thousand  pounds, 
and  drawn  by  three  yoke  of  oxen,  with  a  driver  to 
each  dray.  I  was  myself  on  horseback.  At  night 
we  camped  out,  turning  into  the  edge  of  the  woods, 
where  we  built  a  fire  and  cooked  our  victuals,  whilst 
the  oxen  were  turned  loose,  with  one  of  the  teamsters 
to  keep  watch  that  they  did  not  wander  off.  This  is 
the  usual  custom.  The  third  day  we  arrived  oppo- 
site Hobart,  where  I  left  the  men  and  teams,  and  put- 
ting the  wool  aboard  a  boat,  crossed  the  river,  which 
is  here  two  miles  in  width. 

My  first  care  was  to  proceed  to  the  police,  report 
myself  and  obtain  a  permit  for  the  time  I  wished  to 


'1 


t    .  H 


t! 


164 


AT    TABART's. 


Stay.  This  being  done,  I  was  permitted  to  go  about 
my  business.  Besides  making  a  sale  of  the  wool,  1 
had  a  quantity  of  teas,  sugars,  cloths,  &;c.,  to  pur- 
chase for  my  employer,  who,  like  most  of  the  set- 
tlers, kept  a  small  store  of  his  own  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  his  men  and  neighbors. 

I  iiad  not  gone  far  before  I  came  upon  an  Ameri- 
can var  "half  seas  over."  I  accosted  him,  asking  if 
he  was  from  America.  "Wliat  business  is  that  to 
you,  you  bloody  constable  ?"  and  he  squared  himself 
ready  to  pitch  bodily  and  personally  into  my  pres- 
ence. "  But,"  says  I,  "  my  friend,  it  is  of  some  bus- 
iness to  me,  for  I  am  not  what  you  take  me  to  be, 
but  an  American  too."  "The  Dickens  you  are ! 
how  came  you  here  '?"  cried  Jack,  his  features  relax- 
ing and  his  arms  falling  to  his  sidj.  I  told  him  briefly 
how  I  was  taken  prisoner  in  Canada,  and  with  others 
transported,  and  made  to  drag  out  a  miserable  exis- 
tence there.  The  heart  of  the  weather-beaten  man 
was  now  opened,  and  nothing  was  too  good  for  me. 
Go  away  from  that  place  I  should.  His  vessel  left 
in  a  few  days,  and  beside,  there  were  two  others  there. 
He  would  take  me  on  board  at  once  and  secrete  me. 
But  I  was  afraid — I  dared  not  do  it  then.  I  knew 
there  was  a  strict  watch  kept  over  me,  for  I  felt  pretty 
well  assured  that  I  was  marked  at  the  police,  and 
constables  were  continually  dogging  me.  I  told  the 
good  natured  fellcw  that  I  would  not  then,  but  would 
think  of  it  more.  That  evening  he  met  me  again 
with  several  of  his  comrades,  who  urged  me  harder 


• 


i  1 


A."* 


AT   TABART's. 


165 


go  about 

3  wool,  I 

to  pur- 

tlie  set- 

commo- 

1  Ameri- 
nsking  if 
s  that  to 
J  himself 
iTiy  pres- 
ume bus- 
le  to  be, 
you.  are  ? 
es  relax- 
m  briefly 
th  others 
ble  exis- 
iten  man 

for  me. 
)ssel  left 
5  rs  there, 
rete  me. 

I  knew 
3lt  pretty 
lice,  and 
[  told  the 
ut  would 
ne  again 
e  harder 


» 


than  ever  to  go  with  them.  It  was  a  hard  struggle 
with  me  :  I  had  hopes — strong  hopes — of  getting 
my  liberty  from  govcrimnent  before  many  months, 
and  I  knew  that  if  I  attempted  an  escaj)e  and  should 
be  unsuccessful,  m}''  hope  of  liberty  would  be  forever 
fled,  if  my  life  did  not  pay  tlio  forfeit.  I  was  aware 
too  that  under  such  strict  surveilance  it  would  be  a 
difficult  mntter.  These  considerations,  and  the  ar- 
dent longing  for  home — "that  home  of  the  free  and 
the  brave  " — made  me  irresolute  :  now  almost  de- 
termi^.od  to  go,  and  then  afraid  of  the  consequences 
and  abandoning  the  idea.  Thus  did  I  come  almost 
to  a  thousand  conclusions  in  twenty-four  hours. 

The  next  day  T  had  disposed  of  the  wool  and  had 
the  required  purchases,  and  still  had  £1000  left  in 
my  pocket — equivalent  to  five  thousand  dollars. 
The  impulse  now  to  leave  the  land  and  seek  my  na- 
tive country,  was  stronger  than  ever,  and  the  men- 
tal struggle  I  endured  no  one  can  im.'igine.  The 
sailors  met  me  again  and  importuned  me  to  go.  I 
told  them  of  the  difficulties  that  surrounded  me,  and 
what  would  be  the  result  in  case  of  my  failure.  But 
they  swore  they  would  get  me  off*  safely— that  they 
would  go  aboard  and  get  the  mate,  whom  they  would 
warrant  could  put  mo  where  the  British  would  never 
find  me.  Still  I  told  them  I  would  wait  a  while 
longer,  when  I  believed  I  should  get  my  freedom 
from  government — tliat  at  present  1  was  suffering 
much  less  than  I  had  done,  and  therefore  [  would  trv 
nnd  stand  it  a  few  months  more.     Nevertheless  I  left 


Ij 


'!«: 


16G 


AT    TAB  ART'S. 


i 


.  •     i  ■ 

i 
i 

>i   i 

i 

m 

A' 

them  in  a  more  undecided  state  than  ever.  There 
I  had  $'5000  in  my  pocket,  which  if  I  could  succeed 
in  getting  olF  with,  v/ould  partially  remunerate  me 
for  my  time  and  sulfering,  and  to  take  which  seemed 
to  be  no  very  heinous  sin.  Bat  conscience  whis- 
pered— "it  is  not  thine.  Tiic  owner  of  it  hath  done 
tiiee  no  harm  ;  moreover,  he  hath  put  great  confi- 
dence in  thy  integrity.  Wherefore,  then,  shouldst 
thou  betray  thy  trust,  and  prove  thyself  a  rogue  ?" 
1  got  the  goods  across  the  river,  loaded  them  on  the 
drays,  and  started  again  for  Oatland.  Still  L  was 
tormented  with  the  v/ish.  Once  I  did  conclude  I 
would  turn  back  ;  but  then  the  thought  came  to  me, 
I  should  not  only  deprive  my  employer  of  his  right- 
ful money,  but  would  also  leave  the  drays  to  be  plun- 
dered by  the  teamsters  of  the  goods.  Then  I  thought 
I  would  go  further  along,  when  I  would  feign  some- 
thing forgotten,  for  which  I  would  return  whilst  they 
should  drive  to  the  next  station,  but  a  short  distance 
beyond,  and  wait  my  return.  This  done  I  could 
make  the  river,  hire  a  little  boat,  float  dowm,  and  un- 
der cover  of  darkness  perhaps  evade  the  water  po- 
lice, and  get  aboard  the  American  ship,  which  the 
next  morning  would  set  sail.  This  idea  i  also  aban- 
doned ;  for  I  began  to  think  that  if  I  ever  left  the 
island,  I  v/ould  not  do  it  so  dishonorably.  Had  the 
money  in  my  pocket  belonged  to  Government,  I 
could  have  taken  it  without  compunctions.  I  had 
ever  been  taught  that  honesty  was  the  best  policy, 
and  thus  far  I  had  endeavored  to  live  to  the  princi- 


AT    TABART'r«. 


167 


There 
succeed 
!rate  me 
seemed 
ce  vvhis- 
atli  done 
at  confi- 
shouldst 
I'ognc  ?" 
n  on  the 
ill  L  was 
nclude  I 
le  to  me, 
Ills  right- 
be  plun- 
I  thought 
gn  some- 
hilst  they 
t  distance 
e  I  could 
1,  and  un- 
^^ater  po- 
v^hich  the 
dso  aban- 
r  left  the 
Had  the 
nment,  I 
I  ,    I  had 
St  policy, 
le  princi- 


ple. Though  in  escaping  I  should  have  'lone  no 
wrong,  but  acted  perfectly  right,  my  better  judgment 
told  me  that  the  taking  of  the  mojiey  was  doing 
wrong  to  an  individual  who  had  himself  treated  rne 
with  comparative  kindness. 

I  returned  and  delivered  everything  safe  to  Tabart, 
who  1  imagined  had  felt  some  fears  lest  I  should  not 
come  again.  He  was  gratified  with  the  result  of  my 
labors,  declaring  I  had  done  as  well,  if  not  better, 
than  he  could  have  done  himself.  For  weeks  after- 
wards, I  could  hardly  sleep  at  night,  thinking  of 
the  chance  I  had  let  slip  of  getting  to  America  ;  and 
at  times  I  was  half  ready  to  curse  myself  for  not 
attempting  it.  The  longing  for  home,  sweet  home, 
was  doubly  increased. 

A  while  after  this  a  number  of  our  men  determined 
upon  an  attempt  to  escape  from  the  shore  in  Swan- 
port  district.  They  made  very  extensive  arrange- 
ments, and  sent  me  word  to  join  them  also,  but  I 
preferred  remaining  in  my  present  situation,  rather 
than  run  the  great  risk  of  being  taken  and  sent  again 
to  the  roads,  of  which  I  had  the  utmost  horror.  They 
however  went  forward — and  failed,  as  I  had  strong 
reason  to  fear  thev  would.  Those  who  have  not 
})cen  througli  the  furnace  can  have  no  idea  of  the  com- 
plete surveilance  that  is  held  over  the  poor  prisoners. 

AVhilst  J  was  with  Tabart,  Sir  Eardly  Wilmot 
n J  rived  to  relieve  Sir  John  Franklin.  Wilmot  was 
much  more  liumanely  disposed,  and  I  believe  it  was- 
mainly  through  his  representations  and  influence  that 


m^^ 


) 

1 

1 

i 

i 
,1 

i 

1 

1    t 

1 
1 

i: 


168 


AT    TABART  S. 


the  government  was  induced  to  commence  freeing 
us  from  the  deep  degradation  into  which  she  had  so 
unmercifully  plunged  us.  Soon  after  his  arrival,  he 
passed  through  Oatland.  Tahart  had  a  very  fine 
span  of  young  horses,  which  he  was  anxious  to  sell 
his  Excellency,  and  accordingly,  the  day  before  his 
arrival  I  was  dispatched  to  Oatland  to  endeavor  to 
effect  a  sale.  I  saw  the  Governor  and  tried  to  drive 
a  bargain  with  him,  but  as  he  was  in  no  trading  mood 
I  only  had  the  honor  of  the  conversation.  At  one 
time  I  was  half  disposed  to  speak  concerning  our 
confinement,  but  a  farther  thought  determined  me  to 
say  nothing.  We  had  complained  so  much  without 
effecting  anything,  but  incurred  abuse,  I  imagined  I 
would  be  as  stoical  as  possible  and  bide  my  time,  for 
life  at  the  longest  would  be  short. 

My  first  year  as  ticket-of-leave  man  was  drawing 
to  a  close.  Tabart  was  anxious  I  should  remain 
another  year,  but  was  not  willing  to  raise  my  wages. 
There  was  one  Kimberly  living  seven  miles  from 
Tabart's  who  also  wanted  to  engage  me.  From  his 
conversation  I  was  satisfied  he  would  give  me  more 
than  £8,  if  I  choose  to  leave  where  1  was.  I  told 
my  employer  I  could  not  stay  with  him  unless  he 
would  raise  my  pay,  still  he  would  not  advance,  and 
yet  I  was  loth  to  leave  him. 


II 


li. 


freeing 
had  so 
ival,  he 
sry  fine 
to  sell 
fore  his 
avor  to 
to  drive 
g  mood 
At  one 
ng  our 
d  me  to 
without 
gined  I 
me,  for 

[rawing 
remain 
wages, 
cs  from 
rom  his 
le  more 
I  told 
iless  he 
ice,  and 


CHAPTER     XII. 


A  PROXY  CONSTABLE OVERSEER  FOR  KIMBERLY. 

About  this  time  that  vicinity  was  much  disturbed 
by  a  gang  of  ''bush  rangers,"  which  are  prisoners 
who  have  taken  the  las'  ,  and  succeeded  in  capturing 
arms  and  ammuniL  :>n  from  the  shepherds,  with  a 
determination  to  live  or  die  in  their  wild  freedom. — 
If  a  prisoner  take  the  bush   and  arm  himself,  it  is 
certain  death  for  .  au  when  taken.    This  gang,  though 
numbering  but  three,   was  a  desperate  set,   and  had 
put  the  settlers  in  much  fear  by  their  frequent  and" 
daring  depredations.      The  constabulary  force  was 
called  out — many  of  the  freemen  joined  the  pursuit 
also,  and  yet  they  evaded  them  all,  though  a  reward 
of  £300  was  on  their  heads.     Tabart  was  evidently 
piqued  at  my  refusal  to  continue  with  him  at  £8  a 
year,  and  through  his  recommendation  I  was  ordered 
to  appear  before  the  magistrate  at  Oatland  to  equip 
myself  and  join  in  the  pursuit  of  the  rangers.     A 
ticket-of-leave  man  is  compelled  to  do  this  duty  when 
it  is  demanded  of  him,  and  yet  he  receives  no  pay, 
unless  he  succeeds  in  capturing  the  ranger,  when  he 
has  a  share  of  the  reward  and  a  free  pardon. 


^    f 


fif 


170 


A    PROXY    rONSTARLE. 


m' 


I  (Ji<l  not  like  the  employment,  and  besides,  my 
constitution  had  become  sociifeeljlod  from  the  suffer- 
ings I  lind  undergone,  that  I  was  in  no  conditifjn  to 
endure  the  fatigue  of  hard  travclhng.  I  urged  my 
case  so  strongly  to  the  magistrate,  ti.at  I  succeeded 
in  convincing  him  of  my  inability  to  ])erform  the  re- 
quired service.  Hut  instead  of  allowing  me  to  re- 
turn to  my  employment,  he  entered  me  on  the  con- 
stabular  list,  to  patrol  the  village  during  the  absence 
of  the  regular  constables.  Here  I  remained  six 
weeks,  walking  the  streets  from  six  in  the  morning 
till  nine  in  the  evening. 

Whenever  the  constable  finds  a  drunken,  brawling 
person,  he  is  obliged  to  take  him  to  the  watch  house, 
for  which  he  receives  half  the  fine,  which  is  usually 
five  shillings.     This  and  his  rations  are  his  receipts. 

During  my  perambulations,  I  avoided  all  such  ap- 
pearances as  much  as  possible,  and  when  one  did 
break  upon  my  vision,  I  shut  my  eyes  as  much  as  I 
dared  to  ;  so  that  through  the  whole  of  my  "official 
career"  I  locked  up  but  four  or  five.  [  hated  tlie 
business,  for  the  constable  wns  looked  upon  by  all 
(dasses  as  a  sort  of  degraded  boiwr^,  scorned  and  con- 
temned by  tlic  freeman,  and  bated  and  despised  by 
the  lower  orders.  It  was  decidedly  unpleasant  bus- 
iness— business  that  I  would  rather  go  peiHiiless  and 
starve  than  to  engage  in.  So,  rather  than  to  mfike 
myself  forward  in  the  matter,  I  took  all  o]>portuni- 
ties  to  neglect  the  duty  as  much  as  I  could,  knowing 
that  if  I  made  poor  business  of  it,  I  should  bo  less 


A    PROXY    CONSTABLi:. 


171 


(los,  iny 
n  siUTor- 
iiion  to 
•god  my 
cvoedod 
1  the  rc- 
io  to  re- 
lic con- 
absenct; 
iiicd  six 
morning 

crawling 
;h  house, 
5  usually 
receipts, 
such  ap- 
one  did 
uch  as  I 
"ofticial 
ated  the 
)n  by  all 
and  con- 
lised  by 
;ant  bus- 
ilcss  and 
to  mr.ke 

tportuni- 
inowiii.o- 

be  leps 


likely  to  be  called  a<i^ain.  Consequently,  no  very 
remarkable  incidents  occurred  during  my  ftfi^resaid 
*'ol]icial  career,"  save  one,  which  1  was  compelled 
into  very  much  against  my  inclination. 

I  had  one  day  noticed  a  brawling  woman  in  the 
street  near  the  princijial  tavern,  wlio  was  the  worae 
for  liquor.  I  therefore  kept  aloof  from  her  vicinity, 
penunbulating  other  portions  of  the  village.  Not 
long  allerwards  tiie  stage  drove  in  from  Launceston 
with  a  largo  load  oi"  the  bloods  and  gent.  They 
stopped  at  tlie  tavern,  and  as  tlie  woman  showed  no 
disposition  to  leave,  but  grew  more  and  more  noisy, 
it  (iecamo  imperative  that  she  should  bo  removed. 
The  chief  constable  now  came  up  the  street  in  search 
of  me ;  I  could  not  hide  away,  else  I  should  have 
been  tempted  to  have  done  it.  He  peremptorily  or- 
dered me  to  take  that  woman  immediately  to  the 
watch  house,  sharply  scolding  me  at  the  same  time 
for  not  doing  it  before.  Now  I  v  ould  rather  have 
attempted  to  put  six  men  in  the  same  place  than  one 
woman.  But  there  was  no  alternative  now,  for  there 
were  no  six  men  in  lawful  condition  just  then  to  go 
there.  So  I  made  the  best  of  it  I  could,  and  walked 
straight  along  toward  her,  plucking  up  as  much  reso- 
lution by  the  way  as  possible,  yet  hoping  all  the 
while  that  some  fortunate  circumstance  would  dodge 
in  to  relieve  me.  Still  the  fates  seemed  against  me. 
I  passed  her,  remarking,  it  would  be  much  to  the  ed- 
ification of  the  Queen's  subjects  if  she  would  keep 
quiet.     "Pooh,"  says  she  "there  goes  a  bloody  con- 


172 


A    PROXY   CONSTABLE. 


stable — he 


the  watch  ;"  and  she  con- 


W 


.  i 


td^if 


can't  put  me  in  me  wa 
tinued  railing  away  at  no  small  rate,  quite  to  the 
amusement  of  the  crowd  on  the  tavern  stops.  Tl'cJ 
chief  constable  here  hoMoed  to  me  again,  command- 
ing nic  to  remove  that  woman  instantly,  else  I  should 
be  sent  to  tlic  watch  myself — thence  to  he  recommit- 
ted to  the  roads.  Seeing  no  alternative,  I  turned 
back,  walked  up  to  her,  and  without  ado  clasped  her 
at  once  about  the  waist  and  flung  her  across  my 
shoulder,  when  I  marched  ofl^  triumphantly  toward 
the  watch-house — passing  directly  by  the  tavern  and 
close  to  the  steps  where  were  clustered  the  gentry, 
witnessing  the  sight  with  much  glee.  My  burthen 
was  by  no  means  a  quiescent  one — for  she  used  the 
means  of  defence  granted  alike  to  cats  and  terma- 
gants, pretty  vigorously  about  my  face — swore — 
kicked — cursed  and  screamed — yet  I  held  bravely 
on  my  way  for  a  few  rods,  when  my  foot  treacher- 
ously slipped,  and  my  burthen  and  I  came  sprawling 
together  on  the  ground — to  the  infinite  delight  of  the 
spectators,  who  burst  into  one  general  roar  of  laugh- 
ter. There  I  was,  entangled,  and  suffering  danger 
of  various  contusions  from  the  active  heels  of  my 
fallen  companion — the  crowd  roaring  at  us,  and  my- 
self so  much  convulsed  with  laughter  at  the  ludicrous- 
ness  of  my  situation  that  I  was  almost  nerveless  for 
strength.  I  however  soon  succeeded  in  scrambling 
out  of  harm's  way,  with  but  slight  damage.  But  I 
was  again  in  a  dilemma,  for  the  prisoner  refused  to 
budge  an  inch,  or  even  to  rise  up.     I  saw  there  must 


A  PROXY  CONSTABLE. 


173 


she  con- 
te  to  the 
»s.  Tl-j 
Dmmand- 

l  should 
ocommit- 

I  turned 
isped  her 
cross  my 
y  toward 
ivern  and 
e  gentry, 
r  burthen 

used  the 
id  terma- 
-swore — 
d  bravely 
treacher- 
?prawling 
ght  of  the 
oflaugh- 
ig  danger 
5ls  of  my 
,  and  my- 
udicrous- 
/eles^'  for 
rambi.ng 
.  But  I 
efused  to 
lere  must 


be  something  done.  There  was  a  storekeeper  in 
the  village  by  the  name  of  Gaboy,  who  was  exces- 
sively proud  feeling  and  quite  aristocratic  in  man- 
ners. As  a  constable,  I  had  the  riglit  of  command- 
ing any  one  in  the  Queen's  name  to  assist  me  ;  and 
whoever  so  called  on,  was  obliged  to  render  aid  un- 
der very  heavy  penalties.  Seeing  this  knight  of  the 
yard-stick  strutting  up  the  street,  I  holloed  to  him  at 
once  :  "  Gabey,  I  command  you  in  the  Queen^s 
name  to  assist  me  in  taking  this  woman  to  the  watch- 
house."  The  sound  fell  on  his  ears  like  a  bomb- 
shell— for  he  would  have  given  no  small  amount  of 
money  rather  than  to  have  been  caught  thus,  and  in 
the  presence  of  the  gentry  too,  with  many  of  whom 
he  was  acquainted.  He  dared  not  do  otherwise  than 
to  give  the  required  aid.  So,  with  a  woful  counte- 
nance he  came  to  the  duty,  when  we  seized  her  each 
by  an  arm  and  dragged  her  to  the  watch-house. 

Poor  Gabey  did  not  get  over  his  disgrace  for  a 
long  time,  and  his  aristocratic  airs  wilted  under  the 
jeers  of  his  associates  like  a  cabbage  leaf  in  a  June 
sun»  For  my  part,  I  enjoyed  the  matter  very  well, 
particularly  the  turn  which  it  took  upon  Gabey,  who 
never  looked  upon  me  afterward  with  any  very  ex- 
alted ideas  of  respect. 

During  my  stay  in  the  village  I  saw  Tabart  fre- 
quently, who  urged  me  strongly  to  go  back  and  live 
again  with  him.  He  assured  me  he  could  get  me  off 
the  station  at  any  time  he  wished,  yet  he  refused  to 
advance  my  wages.     Kimberly  I  also  saw  occasion- 


174 


ACTING    OVERSEER. 


t  ! 


jilly,  who  had  ow  agreed  to  give  mc  £0  a  year, 
with  some  extra  i  idulgoncies — my  time  to  commence 
as  soon  as  1  should  be  allowed  to  retire  from  my 
public  station.  £9  a  year  was  the  maximum  of  wa- 
ges on  the  island,  and  so  long  as  government  would 
not  permit  our  leaving  the  island,  I  had  no  reason  tc 
complain  against  the  settler  who  would  allow  mc  that 
maximum,  and  throw  in  many  little  indulgencies 
beside.  »  - 

The  constables  having  returned  from  their  fruit- 
less search — I  was  relieved  from  the  cares  and  anx- 
ieties of  my  "political  career."  Whether  it  had 
been  a  brilliant  one,  I  did  not  stop  to  inquire.  1  felt 
most  grateful  that  1  could  be  permitted  to  "  retire." 
I  immediately  sought  Kimberly's  residence,  some 
eight  miles  distant,  and  was  at  once  installed  over- 
seer on  his  estate.       J  '  . 

My  employer  was  a  man  of  fifty  years,  a  widower, 
with  the  same  number  of  sons  and  daughters  as  Ta- 
bart,  and  a  like  number  of  hands  about  the  house. 
The  daughters  were  as  proud  as  Lucifer,  and  feared 
the  sight  or  presence  of  one  of  low  degree  as  much 
as  they  would  the  plague  ;  wealth  and  distinction 
was  the  sum  and  substance  of  their  idea  of  soul. 
The  boys  and  old  man  were  sociable  and  kind — 
though  himself  much  addicted  to  the  bottle. 

His  estate  covered  ten  thousand  acres,  with  six 
hundred  under  cultivation.  He  had  but  six  thous- 
and sheep  and  one  hundred  cattle,  his  attention  being 
given  mostly  to  tillage.     When  I  commenced  with 


.S. 


J 9  a  year, 
jonimoncc 
5  from  my 
nun  of'wa- 
ent  >voukl 
»  renson  to 
w  me  thai 
lulgencies 

their  fruit- 
5  and  anx- 
her  it  had 
re.     1  felt 
"retire." 
lice,  wsome 
tiled  over- 
widower, 
srs  as  Ta- 
he  house. 
\nd  feared 
as  rfiuch 
listinction 
a  of  soul, 
id  kind — 

with  six 
six  thous- 
tion  being 
iced  with 


ACTING    OVERSEER. 


175 


him,  his  men  were  seeding  five  hundred  acres  of 
wheat.  Ordinarily,  ho  had  from  twenty-five  to  thirty 
hands,  who  liked  him  mucli,  because  he  seldom  pun- 
ished or  overtasked  them  ;  and  yet  he  received  as 
much  work  as  those  who  were  continually  driving, 
and  half  the  time  punishing.  In  his  charge  to  me, 
he  bade  me  be  kind  to  the  men,  but  see  they  did  their 
work  faithfully.  And  for  the  two  years  I  was  his 
overseer,  but  one  man  on  his  premises  received  any 
punishment.  This  was  in  wheat  harvest.  I  had 
been  to  a  station  and  hired  forty  extra  hands  at  five 
shillings  (Sl,^5)  per  day.  Whenever  a  settler  call:5 
upon  a  station  for  help  it  is  granted  to  him.  The 
prisoners  in  this  respect  are  divided  into  three  grades, 
according  to  their  ^^ood  behavior.  The  settler  has 
his  pick  in  the  wh-'le  gang.  If  he  takes  those  of  the 
first  grade,  the  prisjner  receives  the  wages  himself. 
If  of  the  second  grade,  he  receives  one  half  and  the 
government  the  other  half;  and  ifof  the  third  grade, 
iie  receives  one  third  only.  If  any  of  theiii  do  not 
suit,  or  they  are  refractory,  they  are  returned,  pun- 
ished, and  kept  on  the  road.  And  this  is  why  it  is 
the  frecinaa  or  ticket-of-leave  man  cots  no  more. 
The  settler  is  supplied  v/ith  convict  labor  at  any 
price,  between  £6  and  £0  per  annum,  he  choses  to 


give. 


In  this  instance  the  man  was  slow,  and  yet  was 
anxious  to  keep  up  with  his  companions  ;  to  do  which 
he  would  clip  off  the  wheat,  letting  it  scatter  on  the 
ground,  and  lay  the  blame  to  the  grub,  which  that 


• 


176 


ACTING    0VER8EER. 


season  infested  the  wheat  fields  to  a  large  extent. 
Going  with  Kimberly  one  day  into  the  harvest  field, 
we  saw  the  man  at  his  trick.  When  we  t;arne  up 
and  Kimberly  (juestioned  him,  he  stoutly  denied  the 
fact ;  but  finding  we  had  seen  him  at  it,  he  finally 
owned  up  and  confessed  the  reason.  Kimberly  was 
for  sending  him  immediately  to  the  magistrate  for 
punishment.  I  ventured  to  ask  for  the  liberty  of  in- 
flicting the  penalty  upon  the  spot.  "  Oh,  certainly, 
if  you  wish,"  said  he.  I  then  made  a  few  remarks 
to  the  man,  setting  forth  the  reasonableness  of  my 
punishment,  which  was,  that  he  should  for  three  days 
gather  up  the  heads  of  wheat,  without  receiving  any 
other  remuneration  than  his  daily  food.  It  did  the 
fellow  more  good  than  a  visit  to  the  triangle  or  the 
cells  could  have  done.  My  employer  often  told  me 
that  he  had  never  had  an  overseer  that  got  as  much 
I'rom  his  men,  and  with  so  little  trouble,  and  yet  had 
it  so  well  done  as  1  did.  And  yet  1  took  no  harsh 
measures,  nor  enforced  any  obsequious  homage,  and 
I  believe  I  had  their  confidence  and  respect  ecjually 
as  much  as  I  did  Kimberiy's.  He  scarce  ever  took 
any  notice  of  them,  except  in  my  absence.  The 
whole  management  of  the  estate  was  conferred  upon 
me,  with  power  to  make  bargains  in  buying  and 
selling  stock,  sheep,  produce,  &c. 

Upon  either  side  of  us  at  a  distance  of  a  mile  and 
a  half  were  taverns,  and  Kimberly  never  left  home 
without  returning  pretty-well-to-do  for  liquor,  lie 
also  kept  a  large  quantity  in  his  own  cellar,  so  that 


ill 


ATTING    0\ERSEEK. 


177 


je  extent. 

vest  field, 

r.ame  up 

lenied  the 

be  finally 

berlv  was 

strate  for 

5rty  of  in- 

certainly, 

r  remarks 

ss  of  my 

;hree  days 

iving  any 

It  did  the 

jle  or  the 

n  told  me 

as  much 

1  yet  had 

lo  harsh 

lage,  and 

t  ecjuallv 

ever  took 

e.     The 

rod  uj)on 

iiig  and 

mile  and 
eft  home 
or.  lie 
,  so  that 


he  was  half  and  two  thirds  drunk  a  greater  part  of 
die  time.  He  freijuently  «tamo  into  the  kitchen  of 
an  evening,  and  spent  the  time,  often  till  midnight, 
talking  about  America  and  tolling  anecdotes.  About 
three  months  after  my  coming  with  liim,  we  antici- 
pated an  attack  from  those  same  Bush  Rangers  tlitit 
were  hunted  whilst  I  was  at  Oatland.  Tlicy  were 
Irishmen,  of  the  names  of  Cash,  Jones  and  Cavorner, 
and  hud  grown  quite  bold  and  daring  in  their  depre- 
dations. There  was  a  constable  who  resided  a  ;  art 
of  the  time  with  Kimberly,  and  against  whom  these 
men  had  a  particular  grudge  for  informing  of  their 
wiiereabou.ts  some  months  before.  We  knew  tbey 
were  prowling  about  the  vicinity  from  the  fact  of 
several  recent  robberies.  My  employer  had  been 
absent  for  two  or  three  days  on  a  "spree."  Return- 
ing about  ten  o'clock  at  night,  he  stopped  at  the  kitch- 
en fire  to  warm  and  clsat  a  while  with  me,  as  1  had 
not  yet  retired.  The  other  members  of  the  house- 
hold were  abed.  The  old  man  was  pretty  chirp  in 
Jul;  liquor,  and  remained  talking  nearly  two  hours. 
About  midnight  I  heard  a  noise  at  the  men's  huts, 
and  remarked  to  Kimberly  that  I  thought  tlie  Bush 
Rangers  were  tliere.  But  be  laughed  at  tlic  idea, 
saying — "  Pshaw,  dates,  they  wouldn't  come  out 
such  a  stormy  night  as  this."  It  was  raining  ve»^' 
hard  at  the  time.  "  It  must  be  them,  I  think,  the 
noise  is  so  unusual,"  I  replied  ;  but  the  old  man 
would  not  believe  it,  until  we  heard  them  approach- 
ing the  house.  "Sure  enough,  they  have  come," 
12 


178 


A<  TlXr.    OVERSEEil, 


ejaculated  the  old  man,  who  shock  with  fear  like  a 
leaf  in  the  wina,  und  wlio  withal  was  now  so  drnnk 
that  lie  could  hardly  stand  up.  The  Rangers  had 
surj)riscd  the  men  at  the  huts,  and  secured  iheir  hands 
behind  them.  This  done,  thev  marched  tliem  to- 
wards  the  house,  denuded  of  every  garment  but  their 
shirts.  As  they  approached,  the  Rangers  demanded 
where  the  constable  slept.  The  men  did  not  know, 
but  replied,  probably  in  the  kitchen  bedroom — (he 
usually  slept  on  a  sofa  in  the  parlor.)  Jones  stepped 
to  the  window  and  commanded  him  to  rise,  when  he 
fired — his  ball  passing  through  the  open  door  of  the 
bedroom  and  lodging  in  the  mantle  of  the  fire  place, 
close  by  the  cook's  head,  who  but  a  minute  before 
had  risen  and  w-as  standing  by  the  fire.  At  the  same 
moiiient  the  kitchoK  door  was  flung  oj)en,  and  the 
muzzles  of  two  guns  presented,  backed  by  the  com- 
mand to  stir  not,  lest  death  should  be  the  result.  Our 
hands  were  then  socured  behind  us.  The  cook,  but- 
ler, gardener,  <S*ic-,  were  also  secured,  and  the  whole 
— the  men  from  the  huis  as  well  as  those  from  the 
injusc— -marched  into  the  parlor  ;  all  in  their  shirts 
save  Kin;berly  and  myself,  who  were  ftdl  dressed, 
when  we  were  put  under  guard  of  Cavenier.  Cash 
demanded  of  the  old  man  where  the  coiistablc  was, 
to  which  he  rf'))lied  he  had  gone  to  the  village  and 
had  not  yet  returned.  lie  nextdcmandcl  where  the 
money  was.  Kimberly  replied  he  had  luA  a  shilling 
in  the  house  ;  which  v/as  the  case,  for  gne rally  the 
farmers  deposit  their  funds  in  the  bank  or  elsewhere, 


ATTING    OVERSEER. 


179 


ear  like  a 

J  so  drnnk 

ngers  had 

heir  hands 

i  t'.icin  to- 

it  but  their 

domanded 

not  know, 

I'oom — (he 

les  stepped 

e,  when  ho 

[Joor  of  the 

fire  place, 

lUte  before 

W.  the  same 

n,  and  the 

the  com- 

!Ldt.     Our 

cook,  but- 

the  whole 

from  the 

leir  shirts 

dressed, 

or.     Cash 

able  was, 

11  age  and 

where  the 

a  shilling 

c  rally  the 

ilsewheret, 


and 


drafts  for  \h. 


/nymcnt  oTdebt'',  eomeiunes 
even  for  sr^iall  sum.s.  lie  was  then  i'lijrrncd  vney 
should  take  the  privilege  of  examiiiing*  his  i  'oms, 
&;c.,  for  themselves. 

They  had  not  gone  far  in  their  ruiiuuagc  before 
they  en  me  upon  the  dangliters,  whom  they  secured 
as  they  liad  the  men,  and  ushered  them  into  the  par- 
lor in  their  undress.  Jt  was  piteous  to  hear  their 
cries  and  entreaties,  and  w'tness  the  anguish  of  their 
mortification.  Yet  I  could  but  feel  a  sort  of  satis- 
faction in  seeing  their  pride  so  completely  humbled 
as  it  was.  Misfortune  often  brings  peop-le  into 
strange  companionship.  Cash  and  Jones  discovered 
nothing  but  a  gold  watch,  a  little  silver  plate,  and  a 
few  minor  articles — besides  a  very  nice  new  suit  of 
clothes,  worth  some  £10  or  £18,  which  Jones  ?jppro- 
priated  to  his  own  use,  leaving  however  his  old  suit, 
which  ha(J  just  began  to  be  threadbare. 

When  the  Bush  Rangers  are  successful  in  their 
predatory  life,  they  go  dressed  as  nicely  as  any  gen- 
tleman, wearing  as  line  broa^^r.|oth,  and  sporting  as 
rich  gold  wjitches,  chains  and  fsnger  rings.  They 
inquired  of  the  oid  man  to  vvhoru  Lue  .  titch  belonged. 
''To  my  eldest  daughter."  Turning  to  her.  Cash 
compelled  her  to  reveal  its  story  ;  which  was  to  the 
effect  that  s!ie  had  received  it  as  a  gift  from  her  affi- 
anced. Cash  then  returned  it  to  its  place,  saying  he 
scorned  to  tike  the  things  of  a  woman.  Thev  then 
proceeded  to  the  store,  where  they  iilled  a  sack  with 
lee,  sugar,  flour,  ham,  &c.,  which  they  brought  into 


180 


ACTlXr.    OVKR&iEER. 


the  parlor,  where  Ihey  yelcctcd  the  largest  nmn  oi 
the  company  to  carry  the  "swag,"  as  they  term  their 
plimder,  for  them  to  the  hush.  The  choice  fell  upon 
the  ganlouer,  who  was  a  stout,  athletic  man,  but  who 
had  only  a  day  or  two  before  l)roken  one  of  his  great 
toes;  J;)  consequence  of  whicli,  it  was  difhcult  for 
lum  to  get  about.  lie  p](?ad  fur  an  excuse,  telling 
them  of  his  allliclion  ;  but  it  was  all  the  same  to  them, 
for  go  he  must,  without  a  word  of  cnmplnint.  His 
hands  were  loosed  and  the  "swag"  thrown  over  his 
shoulders,  when  Cash  and  Caverner  departed  with 
him  for  the  bush.  After  they  were  gone,  Jones  un- 
tied my  own  hands,  and  then  gave  us  the  injimction 
to  remain  perfectly  quiet  for  two  hours,  during  which 
time  he  should  remain  outside  to  see  that  his  injunc- 
tions were  observed,  and  that  his  comrades  had  suffi- 
cient time  to  make  safe  their  retreat ;  and  when  the 
liours  were  fully  expired,  I  could  then  unlose  the 
rest,  I  dared  not  disobey  this  injunction,  nor  did 
the  rest  either,  for  we  too  well  knew  what  desperate 
characters  the  Bush  Rangers  were,  and  that,  defence- 
less as  we  were,  one  man,  armed  with  a  gun  and  u 
belt  of  pistols,  had  decidedly  the  advantnge.  So  soon 
as  the  clock  had  struck  the  two  hours — and  they 
seemed  long  hours  to  us  all,  particularly  to  the  daugh- 
ters, who  sup[dicated  and  entreated  mo  to  unbind 
their  hands,  though  to  liavo  spoken  to  me  in  any  oth- 
er situation  would  have  been  considered  by  them 
such  a  deep  disgrace  that  no  water  could  wash  it  out. 
[  unbound  them  all,  and  immediately  despatched  a 


est  man  of 
i  term  their 
CO  fell  upon 
;in,  but  who 
of  1  lis  great 
diiricult  for 
;u.se,  telling 
me  to  tliem, 
la  int.     His 
WW  over  his 
[)arted  with 
i,  Jones  un- 
)  injimction 
iring  which 
;  his  injunc- 
33  had  siiffi- 
d  when  the 
unlose  the 
on,  nor  did 
t  desperate 
i\t,  defence- 
gun  and  u 
So  soon 
— and  they 
the  daugh- 
to  unbind 
in  any  oth- 
}>y  them 
vash  it  out. 
!])atched  a 


ACTINO    OVERSEER. 


181 


messenger  on  horseback  to  Oatland  with  the  news ; 
the  constables  wore  ngnin  in  |)ur.suit,  but  Mithout suc- 
cess. The  gardener  rolurned  the  next  morning  at 
nine  o'clock,  locking  more  woebegone  than  if  ho  had 
just  passed  through  six  months'  road  service.  A 
cold  heavy  rain  had  bc(3n  falling  almost  incessantly, 
and  denuded  as  he  \\\v.,  u\'  cUjlliiiig,  he  suilercd  be- 
yond description,  lie  had  been  compollcd  to  carry 
the  "swag"  some  five  miles  iiito  tiie  bush,  to  what 
WQs  known  as  the  "murdering  tier,"  a  rocky  eleva- 
tion of  ibrest,  that  furnii-bed  in  its  caves  a  comi)ara- 
tively  sale  retreat.  Its  vicinity  had  been  the  scene 
of  several  murders — hence  its  name,  and  the  feeling 
of  dread  tluit  encom}>ass(.!d  it. 

Cash  before  taking  the  bush  was  a  tioket-of-leavc 
man,  at  work  for  one  of  ibe  settlers.  One  night  in 
the  summer  season,  he  went  to  the  "  safe  " — a  i)lace 
for  keeping  meat,  &c.,  from  the  (lies — and  took  there- 
from a  slice  of  bacon  and  one  o^^^  which  he  ate  to 
satisfy  his  hunger.  lie  was  disrovored,  arraigned 
before  a  nragistrate,  nnd  sentenced  to  two  years  at 
Port  Arthur  and  live  more  upon  the  roads.  No 
sooner  was  he  released  fr;;m  Port  Arthur  and  placed 
upon  the  road,  than  he  took  t!ie  bush,  inducing  Jones 
and  Caverner  to  ncc'^>r»)pnny  him.  Soon  after  they 
succeeded  in  disarm i,.g  some  shopherds,  and  thus 
far  had  maintained  their  pv)sition  ;  but  which,  how- 
ever, tlioy  kept  but  six  mouth**  longer. 

One  of  them  had  a  wife,  or  a  woman  with  whom 
ho  lived,  now  residing  in  flobart  town.      Thinking 


,r-:r 


183 


ACTING    OVERSEER. 


'  I 


they  Imd  been  ro  long  away  from  ITobart,  and  had 
changed  so  much  in  their  appoaranco,  that  they  might 
pass  unrecognized  and  thereby  escape  from  the  isl- 
and, they  decided  to  go  to  town.  On  their  way  down 
they  diverged  I'roni  the  **ticr"  which  they  were  fol- 
lowing to  rob  a  tavern,  wliere  they  obtained  quite  a 
large  sum  of  money.  Immediately  returning  again 
to  the  *'tier,"  they  fell  into  a  dispute  about  the  divis- 
ion of  the  spoils,  which  dispute  ended  in  a  duel,  and 
the  wounding  of  Caverner,  who  was  left  by  his  com- 
panions, asthey  supposed,  mortally  wounded.  Cav- 
erner succeeded  in  crawling  to  a  shepherd's  hut  not 
far  off.  The  sliepiierd  was  an  old  man,  sentenced 
to  the  island  for  life.  lie  at  once  took  his  prisoner 
to  Ilobart,  where  he  received  the  reward  of  JG200,  a 
free  pardon  and  a  free  passage  home. 

Cash  and  Jones  succeeded  in  passing  three  or  four 
weeks  in  town  undiscovered.  Accidentally  Cash 
was  recognized  by  an  old  acquaintance,  who  imme- 
diately gave  the  alarm,  and  |)resently  the  whole  town 
was  astir.  It  was  a  bright  moonlight  evening.  Cash 
quickly  perceived  there  was  mischief  in  the  wind, 
and  started  at  once,  as  he  supposed,  for  the  bush,  but 
instead  was  running  at  the  top  of  his  speed  into  the 
very  heart  of  the  town,  lie  was  noticed  thus  com- 
ing down  the  walk  by  a  constable  standing  on  the 
steps  of  his  own  house,  and  who  at  once  judged  him 
to  be  the  outlaw.  The  ofTicer  sprang  into  the  street 
and  grasped  him  bodily,  when  Cash  drew  a  pistol 
from  his  belt  and  fired,  the  man  falling  heavily  to  tho 


ACTING    OVERSEER. 


183 


md  had 
y  might 
1  the  isl- 
ly  down 
/ere  fol- 
([liitc  a 
ig  again 
ic  divis- 
ucl,  and 
hiscom- 
Cav- 
hut  not 
lUenccd 
prisoner 
£200,  a 

)  or  four 
y  Cash 
imme- 
e  town 
Cash 
e  wind, 
ish,  hut 
nto  tho 
iLis  com- 
on  the 
ed  him 
c  street 
a  pistol 
Y  to  tho 


pavement,  alifcloss  rorpso.  TTo  ran  but  a  sljort  dis- 
tance further,  ere  ho  was  ovcrpowored  by  nun)!)crs 
and  disarmed,  .fonos  was  also  soon  red,  but  not  un- 
til he  had  brcMi  fired  upon,  and  both  eyes  destroyed 
by  the  ball  passing  obliquely  through  them.  Cash 
was  soon  hung,  whilst  .lonos  and  Cavernor  were 
placed  in  tho  hospittd  and  fully  cured,  when  they  too 
paid  the  fori'eit  of  their  lives  upon  the  gallows — Jones 
begging  like  n  dog  tluU  his  life  niijGjht  be  spared,  as 
he  could  now  do  no  harm,  when  the  light  of  heaven 
was  blotted  out  of  his  enjoyment. 

Awhile  afterwards  two  others,  Conway  and  .TefTs, 
took  the  bush  and  sucfocdod  in  furnishing  themselves 
with  guns  and  anmiunition.  They  were  both  young 
men,  about  eiglitecn  years  of  age,  prepossessing  in 
appearance,  and  witlial  rather  talented,  particularly 
Conway.  They  had  not  been  in  the  bush  long  when 
a  force  was  mustered  out  and  sent  in  pursuit. 
Whitefoot  urged  Kimbcrly  to  consent  that  I  should 
be  pressed  into  the  service,  l)ut  K.  refused  unless  I 
was  willing,  and  Whitefoot  thought  too  much  of  my 
employer  to  press  any  of  his  men  apjainst  his  wishes. 
As  a  matter  of  course  I  wo'.ild  go  only  upon  compul- 
sion, for  it  was  busine::s  I  did  not  like.  I  could  not 
blame  the  R  Uigers  so  much  for  trying  to  gain  thoir 
freedom — for  it  truly  seemed  to  the  convict  that  ev- 
ery man's  b md  was  against  him,  and  he  might  be 
well  pardoni  d  for  standing  out  in  his  own  defence  ; 
and  therefor:^  for  me,  who  had  felt  so  much  and  so 
keenly  the  tyrant's  power,  to  go  and  liunt  them  to 


184 


ACTING    OVERSEER. 


Iho  (Icntb,   was  something  tlmt   my  spirit  revolted 
at,  mvl  was  more  than  I  wns  willing  to  do. 

Aaron  Dresser  and  Stephen  Wriglit,  two  of  my 
comrades,  wore  however  prfv-scd  and  compelled  to 
go.  There  were  fourteen  sunt  out  in  two  e(|al  com- 
panies, who  ranged  the  busli  for  two  months,  when 
at  lust  one  of  I'fem  discerned  '^moko  issuing  from  a 
deserted  shc^pherd's  hut.  Creeping  cautiously  up, 
they  surpriried  tlie  men  in  the  act  of  preparing  their 
morning  me:d,  when  tlicy  rpiickly  secured  them. 
Just  as  tliey  were  leading  them  fortli  handcuHbd,  the 
party  to  which  Dresser  and  Wright  l)e]onged  came 
up.  They  held  a  short  consultation,  agreeing  that 
the  captains  should  report  both  parties  engaged  in 
the  capture,  whereby  all  should  receive  an  equal 
share  of  the  result,  which  was  the  reward  of  JC200, 
a  free  pardon  for  each,  and  a  free  p.-issago  home. 
This  was  good  luck  for  my  friends,  which  gave  them 
a  speedy  passage  home.  They  were  put  on  board 
a  boat  just  leaving  for  London,  with  ordnrs  to  the 
captain  to  place  them  upon  the  first  American  ves- 
sel spoken,  homeward  bound.  They  were  not  long 
at  sea  before  they  hailed  a  returning  whaler,  upon 
which  they  were  placed,  and  their  passage  paid  to 
New  Bedford,  where  they  arrived  in  due  course  of 
time. 

Conway  and  JefTs  were  soon  executed  atOatland. 
Conway  requested  of  the  high  constable,  a  day  or 
two  before  his  execution,  that  he  might  be  hung  in 
a  clean  white  shirt.    It  was  procured  for  him.    "  No," 


h< 


Arrixo  0VKnsKi:n. 


185 


revolted 

3  of  my 
lollcd  to 
{III  coni- 
s,  when 

from  tt 
isly  up, 
ng  their 
il  them, 
llbfl,  the 
^d  ramc 
ng  thnt 
iiged  in 
n  equal 
f  £200, 

home, 
ve  them 
n  board 
^  to  the 
an  vos- 
lut  long 
r,  ii})on 
paid  to 
ursc  of 

'atland. 
(lav  or 
ung  in 

''No,'" 


ho  said,  '*  1  will  not  put  it  on  now.  Let  it  be  laid 
away  till  I  fun  led  from  the  jail,  fur  I  want  it  should 
bo  clean  and  nice.  I  cannot  bear  to  die  in  tliis  dirty 
convict's  sliirt."  liis  wish  was  graiilicd.  A  large 
concourse  assembled  to  witncs  their  execution,  lie 
ascended  the  scailbld  with  a  calm  counlonancc  and 
a  firm  step,  when  he  addressed  the  spectators  at  con- 
siderable length  in  an  clorpiont  and  touching  manner. 
Indeed  1  was  not  the  only  one  that  (olt  a  pang,  that 
one  so  well  endowed  to  have  done  the  world  good 
service,  should  come  to  such  an  rr? timely  and  igno- 
ble end. 

At  another  time,  a  company  were  prensed  to  go 
in  pursuit  of  two  other  JUish  Rangers.  Among  the 
number  was  l>emas  Woodburv,  who  had  so  much 
of  the  American  spirit  that  he  peremptorily  told  them 
he  should  not  lift  his  hand  to  fight  for  them,  though 
they  did  compel  him  to  go  so  much  against  hi.'j  will. 
Tliey  came  upon  the  Rangers,  when  the  company 
were  ordered  to  fire,  which  tlicy  did  saving  Wood- 
bury. Yet  the  men  escaped  unharmed.  Tlio  cap- 
tain was  very  angry,  probably  because  he  did  not 
succeed  in  shooting  them  down,  and  therefore  vented 
his  spite  upon  Woodbury,  who  was  brought  before  a 
magistrate,  his  tickct-of-leave  broken,  and  himself  re- 
manded again  to  the  roads  for  a  year.  lie  had  been 
ihu?  at  work  about  two  months,  when  one  day  being 
in  Oatland,  I  observed  his  name  gazetted  as  due  a 
free  pardon.  I  immediately  jumped  on  my  horse 
and  galloped  out  to  the  works,  two  miles  distant,  ac- 


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33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


«-' 


^ 


^^ 


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f/ 


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^ 


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i 


186 


ACTING    OVERSEER. 


>  '* 


\  I ' 


f  \      ! 

1/ '  ■  r 


I  i 


f: 

i 

if 

I    '    ■    ■■     j    ' 

'    :      '     1 

;■: 

Ir 

;-^ 

f ' 

:       1' 

•1  ■ 

'11 

.        . 

1k^ 

costing  him  at  once — "  Woodbury,  do  you  know  you 
are  free  ?"  The  man  was  astonished  ;  "  No,  I  am 
not  free,"  he  said  in  rather  a  bitter  tone.  "  But  you 
are  free."  "Are  you  sure  of  it  ?"  he  asked  eagerly. 
"  Yes  ;  for  I  have  just  read  it  in  the  Gazette."  The 
poor  fellow  was  so  overjoyed  he  scarcely  knew 
whether  he  was  in  the  body  or  out  of  the  body.  He 
jerked  off  his  old  skull  cap,  danced,  and  capered 
about  as  if  he  were  delirious  with  pleasure,  "/s  it  so 
though.  Gates  ?"  "Are  you  sure  it's  so  ?"  he  asked, 
I  presume,  a  dozen  times.  The  superintendent  came 
up  in  quite  a  rage  and  ordered  Woodbury  to  work. 
"But  you  have  no  authority  over  him  now,"  said  I, 
"he's  free!"  "Free?  what  business  have  you 
coming  here  telling  him  he's  free  ?"  and  the  myr- 
midon of  tyranny  ordered  me  to  be  gone.  "  Not  so 
fast,  sir,"  I  replied  ;  "  for  whether  you  desire  it  or 
not,  it  is  my  business,  and  the  man's  business  too ; 
for  we  have  suffered  the  hellish  cruelty  of  such  men 
as  you  are  long  enough  to  know  how  sweet  freedom 
is."  We  then  left  him,  foaming  and  swearing  the 
direst  vengeance  against  us,  if  Woodbury  was  not 
indeed  free.  There  were  nineteen  others  pardoned 
at  the  same  time  with  Woodbury.  Others  had  also 
received  the  same  boon  previously.  :m  '''"■ 

Calling  it  a  crime  for  which  we  had  been  sent  there, 
each  was  equally  guilty  therein,  so  that  it  could  but 
fieem  to  us,  that  whilst  they  were  liberating  some 
they  were  doing  injustice  to  others.  But  as  it  was 
oil  injustice,  from  beginning  to  end,  it  was  only  heap- 


M 


ACTING    OVERSEER. 


187 


low  you 
fo,  I  am 
But  you 
eagerly. 
The 
y  knew 
y.  He 
capered 
"Js  it  so 
ic  asked, 
snt  came 
.0  work. 
"  said  I, 
ave  you 
he  myr- 
"  Not  so 
;ire  it  or 
ess  too ; 
uch  men 
freedom 
ring  the 
was  not 
)ardoned 
had  also 

nt  there, 
ould  but 
ig  some 
is  it  was 
ily  heafi- 


ing  more  and  greater  wrongs  on  a  part  than  on  the 
whole. 

It  was  some  nine  months  after  Woodbury's  de- 
parture, t:iat  my  hopes  began  again  to  flutter  faintly. 
Comode,  who  was  one  of  the  Governor's  council,  was 
gone  to  Ilobart  on  official  business.  Who  knew  but 
there  might  be  more  of  us  who  should  be  granted 
pardons  1  and  what  if  1  should  be  one  of  them  ?  Oh  ! 
how  I  hoped  and  longed  it  might  be,  and  yet  dared 
not  to  hope  but  fiuntly — very  faintly  indeed. 

Thursday,  the  13th  of  September,  184.5,  I  was 
sent  by  Kimberly  to  the  post  office  for  his  papers  and 
letters.  Just  as  I  rode  up,  the  mail  coach  arrived 
from  Hobart.  Among  the  passengers  that  dismount- 
ed for  a  shortstop  I  noticed  Comode.  I  was  so  anx- 
ious that  I  ventured  to  intrude  myself  on  his  notice. 
He  was  then  sitting  alone  in  the  parlor.  I  bowed  to 
him,  remarking  that,  as  I  was  one  of  the  Canadian 
prisoners,  I  felt  much  anxiety  to  know  what  were 
the  intentions  of  Government  respecting  those  of  us 
who  were  not  yet  pardoned,  and  why  it  was  that  a 
part  were  liberated,  and  the  rest,  who  were  guilty  of 
no  more  crime,  should  still  be  held  in  confinement. 
He  replied,  "J  am  pretty  well  assured  it  is  the  inten* 
tion  of  Government  to  release  you  all ;  but  it  was 
thought  best  ihat  it  should  not  be  done  at  once,  lest 
the  liberation  of  so  many  should  create  an  i5\cite- 
ment  among  the  other  prisoners.  But,"  continued 
he,  "there  have  been  eleven  pardoned  at  this  pres- 
eut  sitting  of  the  Council.     What  is  your  name  V* 


ill 


188 


ACTING    OVERSEER. 


fm\ 


I    '  I 


i'1^ 


it 


^'William  Gates."  "Gates, — Gates,"  said  he,  mu- 
singly, "I  believe  your  name  is  one  of  the  eleven, 
though  I  am  not  certain.  I  have  a  list  of  them  in 
my  portmanteau  ; — (here  the  mail  was  about  start- 
ing) I  have  not  time  to  look  for  it  now,  for  I  must 
be  going  ;  but  you  ride  round  to  my  place  this  after- 
noon and  I  will  let  you  know."  This  was  news  I 
had  longed  for  a  great  while,  and  yet  had  not  dared 
to  indulge  hope  lest  it  should  prove  a  phantom;  and 
now,  when  it  seemed  as  though  the  boon  was  almost 
mine,  I  could  not  credit  it,  yet  wished  in  were  true. 
I  returned  to  Kimberly's  with  conflicting  emotions 
in  my  bosom,  and  spoke  to  him  on  the  matter,  when 
he  advised  me  by  all  means  to  call  on  Comode  and 
ascertain  the  truth.     •  ^    ■.  .  * 

In  a  direct  line  the  distance  was  but  seven  miles, 
whilst  by  the  road  it  was  fifteen.  My  horse  was  not 
very  long  in  carrying  me  thither.  I  rapped  at  the 
door,  when  a  servant  appeared,  and  eyeing  me  pretty 
closely,  announced  me  to  his  master,  who  bade  him 
admit  me  at  once  ;  and  there  I  stood,  before  the 
councillor,  trembling  with  such  feelings  of  hope  and 
fear  as  may  be  felt,  but  not  described.  "  Gates,  you 
are  free  !"  said  Comode.  "  It  cannot  be  !  that  boon 
is  not  for  me,"  I  replied,  hardly  knowing  what  I  did 
say,  for  I  feared — oh  !  how  I  feared — he  was  tantal- 
izing me.  *'  You  can  see  for  yourself,"  he  remark- 
ed, handing  me  the  list  at  the  same  time.  I  ran  it 
over  with  my  eyes,  and  there,  near  the  bottom,  was 
a  name — could  it  be  mine  ?     I  doubted  my  senses — 


ACTING    OVERSEER. 


189 


he,  mu- 
elevcn, 
them  in 
out  start- 
>r  I  must 
.his  after- 
;  news  I 
lot  dared 
m;  and 
as  ahnost 
ere  true, 
emotions 
ter,  when 
node  and 

en  miles, 
e  was  not 
led  at  the 
me  pretty 
bade  him 
►efore  the 
hope  and 
Tates,  you 
that  boon 
vhat  I  did 
ras  tantal- 
e  remark- 
I  ran  it 
ttom,  was 
senses — 


rubbed  my  eyes — looked  again — still  doubted — and 
yet  I  spelled  it  out :  "  William  Gates  !"  Could  it 
be  me  ?  was  my  name  indeed  Gates  ?  Had  I  not 
lost  my  identity,  and  w^as  not  this  some  other  person? 
These,  and  a  thousand  other  conflicting  thoughts, 
rushed  through  my  mind  in  less  time  than  I  have  oc- 
cupied in  detailing  even  this  shadow  of  the  scene. — 
"Are  you  sure  this  is  me,  Mr.  Comode  ?"  I  inquired 
doubtingly,  as  I  held  one  fmger  on  the  name.  "It 
is  for  you,"  he  answered,  his  countenance  beaming 
with  delight.  :_     ':-  '^i  ■■   ■\  '  '-r  ■-■■■' 

It  was  enough.  It  seemed  as  though  my  heart 
would  burst  through  my  bosom,  or  choke  up  my 
throat,  it  leaped  so  wildly  ;  and  my  w^hole  frame 
seemed  so  suddenly  to  expand,  and  to  such  a  degree, 
that  I  incontinently  put  out  my  hands  to  pull  down 
my  trowsers  legs,  that  I  imagined  had  shrunk  above 
my  knees  ;  whilst  my  coat  sleeves  in  hke  manner 
were  left  near  the  elbows,  vainly  endeavoring  to  cov- 
er the  arms  below  ;  and  my  vest  was  nigh  to  burst- 
ing its  buttons,  so  tight  had  it  come  to  be  about  my 
body.  It  actually  seemed  that  my  body  would  burst 
its  garments  asunder,  and  leave  me  standing  there 
before  the  man  of  office  in  a  state  of  nudity.  I  know 
not  how  else  I  acted.  I  was  in  a  delirium  of  joy  and 
felt  entirely  like  a  new  man.  I  reigned  my  horse 
directly  for  Kimberly's.  It  was  one  which  had  been 
trained  expressly  for  driving  cattle,  and  was  there- 
fore well  used  to  leaping  fences,  logs,  &c.  It  took 
a  direct  line  home,  scaling  brush  and  rail  fences,  and 


ii 


190 


ACTING    OVERSEEE. 


m 


''f  I 


IN 


n^; 


I  :;-jM 


'  )  ;  ■  a 


whatever  obstructions  interposed,  with  perfect  ease, 
how  long  I  was  in  passing  the  distance  I  know  not, 
but  the  horse  stood  panting  at  his  master's  gate  before 
I  was  scarcely  aware  we  had  left  Comode's. 

"  It  is  true,  it  is  true,  Mr.  Kimberly  ;  I  am  free!" 
I  shouted,  as  I  burst  into  the  old  man's  presence. 
"God  bless  you,"  said  he  ;  "but  what  will  you  do 
now  ?"  "  Leave  the  island  just  as  quick  as  I  can 
get  away  from  '♦."  "But  how  will  you  get  awayl" 
"Trust  luck  for  that."  "Oh,  you  had  better  stay 
with  me  another  year  ;  I'll  advance  your  wages  to 
j£l6,  which  will  help  you  materially  in  getting  home 
another  year."  Although  I  had  experienced  good 
treatment  from  Kimberlv,  and  thought  much  of  him 
as  a  man  and  a  gentleman,  yet  I  so  detested  the  isl- 
and, I  could  not  bear  the  idea  of  remaining,  hardly 
another  day.  I  was  therefore  determined  to  go  im- 
mediately to  Hobart  town,  and  secure  a  passage 
home  if  possible  ;  but  if  not,  then  proceed  to  Austra- 
lia, where  I  had  heard  wages  were  far  better,  so  that 
I  could  the  quicker  earn  my  passage  money.  My 
employer  had  been  so  kind,  in  giving  me  at  various 
times  shirts,  &c.,  and  even  a  nice  suit  of  clothes, 
that  I  had  been  enabled  to  lay  aside  nearly  all  my 
wages,  so  that  he  was  nov/  indebted  to  me  £16. 
Had  I  been  so  disposed,  I  might  have  secured  my- 
self £100  by  peculating  his  funds,  and  he  would 
never  have  known  the  difference.  Seeing  my  de- 
termination to  leave,  he  went  to  the  tavern  to  pro- 
cure me  the  money  ;    but  instead  of  returning,  he 


urn 


ACTING    OVERSEER. 


191 


2t  ease, 
ow  not, 
before 

esence. 

you  do 
IS  I  can 
away*?'* 
ter  stay 
ages  to 
tg  home 
jH  good 

of  him 

the  isl- 
,  hardly 
)  go  im- 
passage 

Austra- 
,  so  that 
y.     My 

various 
clothes, 
r  all  my 
le  £16. 
red  my- 
e  would 

my  de- 

to  pro- 
ling,  ho 


fell  drunk  and  remained  three  da}^s.  Three  longer 
days  it  seemcrl  to  me  I  had  never  seen.  Friday  I 
was  at  Oatland,  where  I  saw  my  name  gazetted  for 
a  free  pardon.  I  was  joined  by  a  comrade,  Riley 
Whitney,  who  was  also  one  of  the  eleven.  Sunday 
night  the  old  man  came  home,  and  the  next  morning 
paid  me  the  £10.  He  was  extremely  loth  to  have 
me  go,  and  renewed  his  solicitations  to  have  me  stop 
another  year.  But  still,  he  said  he  would  not  com- 
pel me  to  stay,  if  it  were  in  his  power.  We  bade 
each  other  a  hearty  good  bye,  and  soon  I  was  on  my 
way,  footing  it  with  Whitney  to  Hobart  town.  Just 
as  we  entered  Oatland,  we  witnessd  the  execution  of 
a  female  who  had  murdered  a  child.  As  usual  upon 
such  occasions,  there  were  many  spectators  out. 
We  arrived  at  the  town,  a  distance  of  fifty  miles,  at 
eleven  o'clock  in  the  night,  well  tired  with  our  day's 
travel.  Early  the  next  morning  we  called  at  the 
police  office  for  our  "Pardons."  We  had  to  pass 
through  another  searching  examination,  to  ascertain 
whether  we  corresponded  with  the  description  on 
record. 

Everything  appearing  satisfactory  to  the  man  of 
function,  we  were  permitted  to  have  the  bit  of  parch- 
ment that  restored  us  the  libertv  of  which  we  had  so 
long  and  so  wrongfully  been  deprived.  But  there  it 
left  us,  just  as  far  away  from  home,  without  means 
to  return  to  those  we  loved.  We  went  down  among 
the  shipping,  but  there   was  no  vessel  there  from 

at  was  bound  th 


ii 


h 


any 


way. 


192 


ACTING    OVERSEER. 


f   '    ! 


I'  ) 


again  went  into  the  city  to  stroll  about  for  an  iiour 
or  two.  Wo  had  not  gone  far  when  we  stumbled 
upon  another  execution — that  of  two  women.  The 
hangman  was  just  preparing  them  for  the  drop.  It 
soon  fell.  One  of  the  women  died  almost  instantly; 
the  other  struggled  for  several  moments,  when  the 
hangman  stepped  forward,  jumped  upward,  grasped 
the  feet  of  the  criminal,  which  he  pulled  downward 
with  his  whole  force,  swinging  himself  clear  of 
the  ground  for  the  space  of  a  minute  or  more.  It 
was  so  revolting  that  even  the  spectators,  who  are 
there  hardened  to  revolting  sights,  cried  out  "  For 
shame !"  Whitney  and  myself  turned  away,  sick 
at  heart,  and  presently  were  again  on  the  wharves. 
We  soon  found  a  small  schooner,  loaded  with  lum- 
ber for  Malbourne,  in  Australia.  Wo  went  on  board 
V  a  that  afternoon  left — I  trust  forever — Van  Die- 
man's  Land  :  that  place  so  horribly  stamped  upon 
the  memory.  , 


■'^. 


■  *-■ 

^1. 

• 

.; 

'i  ' 

1 

■  t ". 

; 

Ai 

LiLi  ■ 

an  liour 
tumbled 
I.  The 
rop.  It 
istantly; 
hen  the 
grasped 
wnward 
clear  of 
ore.  It 
who  are 
Lit  "For 
ray,  sick 
vharves. 
^ith  lum- 
on  board 
^^an  Die- 
3cd  upon 


'••j.-  ^ 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


VAN    DIEMAN    AND    ITS    CHARACTERISTICS. 

Whitney  and  I  remained  on  deck  watching  our 
late  prison  home  with  feelings  of  pleasure — pleasure 
that  we  were  no  longer  forced  to  tread  its  soil.  And 
as  it  receded  from  our  view,  and  appeared  to  sink 
beneath  the  waters,  we  involuntarily  exclaimed,  "So 
may  it  go  down,  never,  never  more  to  lift  its  crest 
above  the  wave."  Our  sufferings  had  been  so  great 
it  seemed  almost  a  miracle  tb!.t  we  should  have  sur- 
vived them.  For  a  long  time  I  had  been  afflicted 
with  a  cough,  that  was  fast  wearing  away  what  lit- 
tle of  my  constitution  the  road  service  had  spared. 
It  had  been  contracted  from  exposure  at  the  stations, 
and  instead  of  getting  better  had  been  gradually  in- 
creasing in  violence.  The  doctor  at  Hobart  told  me 
I  could  not  survive  it  long,  for  it  would  inevitably 
bring  me  to  the  grave,  and  that  too,  he  thought,  with- 
in a  few  months.  A  thousand  thoughts  thronged 
through  my  mind.  The  vicisitudes  of  life  that  had 
been  my  lot  for  the  last  eight  years,  seemed  like 
some  terrible  dream,  or  some  horrid  vision.     But 

yonder  lay  the  island,  whose  first  welcome  to  us  was 
13 


llil 


VAX    DIEM  AN    AND 


i 

i 

I 

: 
i 

i 

J 

'  i 

! 
^  i 
J  ' 


tlie  sight  of  men  in  gibbets,  and  whereon  we  had 
been  forced  to  drag  out  some  five  and  a  half  years 
of  most  degraded  servitude — and  whose  last  greeting 
was  the  more  disgusting  sight  of  women  in  those 
same  gibbets.  Oh!  what  a  comment  upon  that  isl- 
and of  heavy  loaded  sin. 

Had  we  been  sent  there  for  f?omc  crime — murder* 
or  treason — we  might  not  have  had  reason  to  com- 
plain. Life  is  sweet,  and  man  clings  to  it  with  des- 
peration. It  is  well  that  the  love  of  it  is  so  strongly 
entwined  about  the  soul,  else  earth  would  present  a 
dreary  waste — an  uninhabited  desert.  But  it  is  in- 
deed the  truth,  that  if  the  horrors  of  the  convict  life 
be  as  faithfully  delineated  as  the  capacity  of  language 
will  permit,  still  there  is  that  about  it  which  yet  re- 
mains untold.  There  are  sufferings  there  which  not 
only  rend  the  flesh  and  break  down  the  stalwart  heart 
of  proud  manhood,  but  they  pierce  the  inmost  spirit 
and  make  dead  every  feeUng  of  humanity.  There 
could  be  tales  told  of  that  island  that  would  curdle  the 
blood — tales  that  would  make  man  blush  to  think 
tliem  true  of  his  fellow  man,  and  which,  if  one  should 
relate  them  so  far  away,  his  listeners  would  but  think 
him  attempting  a  game  upon  their  credulity — so  fiend- 
like  are  many  of  the  hellish  souls  that  lord  it  there 
but  briefly  over  a  gang  of  their  fellow  clay.  I  would 
not  speak  thus  harshly  ;  but  when  one  thinks  of  those 
sufferings  which  bowed  his  spirit  even  to  the  dust — 
that  crushed  and  took  from  him  his  manhood,  and 
degraded  him  to  the  level  of  a  beast,  he  must  indeed 


ITB    OnAKACTElUHTlca. 


195 


I  we  had 

alf  yoarft 

t  greeting 

in  tliose 

)n  thatisl- 

—murder' 
1  to  com- 
with  des- 

0  strongly 
present  a 
it  it  is  in- 
onvict  life 
'language 
ich  yet  rc- 
vvhich  not 
wart  heart 
inost  spirit 
.  There 
curdle  the 

1  to  think 
ne  should 
I  but  think 
—so  fiend- 
d  it  there 

I  would 
:s  of  those 
he  dust — 
hood,  and 
ist  indeed 


be  a  man  of  more  patience  than  wag  ever  Job,  if  he 
can  smother  the  bitterness  of  his  heart. 

We  were  ten  days  in  making  the  passage,  wh'w.U 
in  fair  wind  and  weather  is  accomplished  in  four  or 
five  days.  When  the  weather  was  suitable  we 
amused  ourselves  in  taking  fish,  of  which  great  num- 
bers hovered  around  our  little  ship.  • 

As  nothing  of  particular  interest  occurred  on  board 
the  schooner,  we  may  spend  the  time  in  taking  a 
bird's  eye  glance  of  the  "Land"  we  have  left,  and 
upon  which  were  still  remaining  eighteen  of  our  num- 
ber. '•'■'-'■  '^'■■^^-"^»'-  ■  '    -^  ■■     ■  '-'^    '■ 

When  it  was  discovered,  I  am  not  well  enough  in- 
formed to  say ;  though  I  believe,  some  two  hundred 
years  since — by  a  Dutchman,  whose  name  it  bears. 
It  was  first  appropriated  to  the  purposes  of  a  penal 
colony,  somewhere  about  the  year  1800.  Of  the 
first  ship  load  landed,  several  yet  remained  on  the 
island.  One  of  these,  by  the  name  of  Johnson,  who 
had  obtained  his  emancipation,  was  reputed  to  be 
the  richest  person  in  the  whole  country.  He  was 
an  old  man,  and  longed  very  much  to  see  his  native 
country.  He  offered  the  government  the  pledge  of 
his  whole  property,  save  enough  to  carry  him  home 
and  back,  if  it  would  but  permit  him  to  visit  old  Eng- 
land 07ice  before  he  died.  But  government  was  rig- 
orous, and  the  old  man  could  not  leave  the  island. 

There  were  then  probably  not  far  from  ninety 
thousand  inhabitants  ;  more  than  half  of  whom  were 
convicts,  including  such  as  were  emancipated. — 


hi 


190 


VAN    UIEMAN    AND 


I        i 


'" 


trj 


■I 


There  arc  three  grades  of  thorn.  I'hose  who  are 
compelled  to  labor  for  government,  generally  upon 
the  roads,  are  the  convicts  proper.  Having  served 
in  this  capacity  an  allotted  time,  if  their  behavior  is 
such  as  suits  their  tyrannical  masters,  they  are  grant- 
ed tickets  of  leave,  when  they  are  called  ticket-of- 
leave  men.  These  usually  have  the  liberty  to  seek 
employment  throughout  the  greater  portion  of  the 
island,  subject,  however,  to  the  demands  of  govern- 
ment, and  under  its  supervision.  It  is  very  seldom 
they  are  able  to  save  any  thing  from  their  earnings. 
If  their  conduct  continues  to  satisfy  their  masters,  and 
they  have  succeeded  in  keeping  out  of  punishment 
or  from  a  re-commitment  to  the  roads,  they  are  al- 
lowed emancipations,  and  are  then  called  Emancipa- 
tionists, having  the  full  privilege  of  citizenship,  and 
the  full  freedom  of  the  island.  ._ 

.  The  natives  have  nearly  all  disappeared.  The 
contact  of  the  English  has  been  even  more  deadly 
to  them  than  it  was  to  our  aboriginees.  I  saw  sev- 
eral of  them  whilst  residing  there.  They  were  less 
in  statute  than  our  Indians — were  tattoed — had  black 
hair,  which  was  rather  curly — a  dark  skin,  with  rath- 
er high  cheek  bones.  There  is  a  small  colony  of 
ihem  on  a  small  adjacent  island,  which  is  the  only 
remnant  of  several  thousands  ;  and  very  soon  will 
it  be  when  the  last  of  these  shall  have  yielded  to  the 
white  race.  f.>  ...  r -J, -r.  -  .-i:,^  r-i^)v/  •.•.  hi'a- 
.  Van  Dieman  society  is  indeed  loathsome.  Drunk- 
enness and  debauchery  are  common  among  those 


,}   ! 


ITS    CHARACTERl»TIC8. 


197 


who  are 

ally  upon 

iig  served 

lavior  is 

are  grant- 

ticket-of" 

ty  to  seek 

on  of  the 

f  govern- 

:'y  seldom 

earnings. 

isters,  and 

inishment 

By  are  al- 

iimancipa- 

iship,  and 

ed.  The 
)re  deadly 
[  saw  sev- 
were  less 
•had  black 
with  rath- 
colony  of 
the  only 
soon  will 
led  to  the 

Drunk- 
>ng  those 


who  claim  themselves  the  gentry.  Nor  are  the  mem- 
bers of  the  female  sex  free  from  the  practice.  La- 
dies of  high  rank  indulge  in  the  social  glass  with  as 
much  gusto  as  do  their  leigo  lords  ;  and  among  the 
lower  classes,  and  in  the  streets,  it  is  as  common  a 
thing  to  see  females  as  males,  reelirgin  all  the  fdth 
of  beastly  drunkenness,  and  blaspheming  most  horri- 
bly. The  poor  man  there,  though  le  be  as  virtuous 
as  a  saint,  has  no  more  hope  of  hoior  and  prefer- 
ment, or  the  privilege  of  associating  with  the  higher 
grades  of  society,  than  the  most  ab  ndoned  wretch 
that  wallows  in  the  ditch.  But  give  him  wealth — 
make  him  rich  in  the  things  of  this  f  irth,  and  he  be- 
comes one  of  the  greatest  "gentlem  'n"  on  the  isl- 
and, though  he  were  the  veriest  va|  iibond  that  dis- 
graced the  magistrate's  calendar.  "V  ce  of  every  de- 
scription seemed  almost  to  run  riol  ;  nor  could  it 
otherwise  be  well  expected,  so  long  as  the  greater 
share  of  the  convicts  were  but  the  s(  um  and  filth  of 
England's  society.  Obscenity  and  c  )arse  vulgarity 
walked  the  streets  and  country  bra;-  ^n  faced — nor 
sought  to  hide  their  deformity  in  d -rkness.  The 
chief  amusements  were  horse  racing  cock  fighting, 
hunting,  theatre  going,  and  the  like. 

The  face  of  the  country  in  most  parts  is  broken. 
Ridges  or  "tiers"  of  land  are  frequent,  some  of  which 
are  rugged  and  rocky.  Between  these  the  land  is 
generally  of  a  rich  loomy  character,  ]>  reducing  good 
crops,  where  '*  is  not  swampy  or  mr-rshy.  There 
are  but  few  streams,  and  in  all  my  time  there  I  nev- 


'Ni 


I'ilh 


;    !■' 


\\ , 


*-l 


•:i' 


s  i 

ll 

J 

i 

1 

198 


VAN    DIEMAN    AND 


er  saw  one  real  gurgling  spring.  Through  the  sum- 
mer season  it  very  seldom  rains ;  as  a  consequence 
the  country  becomes  parched,  the  swamps  dry  up, 
and  nearly  all  the  streams  cease  running.  Good 
water  is  obtained  by  sinking  wells  from  fifty  to  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  depth.  For  their  cattle  the 
farmers  often  scoop  out  deep  ponds  in  the  swamps  or 
marshes,  which  may  retain  water  for  the  greater  part 
if  not  wholly  through  the  year.  The  settlers  live 
some  distance  apart,  on  estates  ranging  from  four  and 
five  thousand  to  twenty  and  twenty-five  thousand 
acres,  very  little  of  which  they  till,  devoting  them 
mainly  to  purposes  of  pasturage.  Wheat  however 
is  raised  to  some  extent,  but  is  not  always  a  sure 
crop,  the  heavy  frosts  frequently  injuring  not  only 
this  but  other  crops  ilso.  The  average  yield  of  crops 
is  nearly  the  same  as  here.  Rye  is  occasionally 
raised.  Oats  and  barley,  which  are  considered  the 
surest  grains,  are  extensively  cultivated.  Potatoes 
flourished,  but  were  affected  with  the  same  unex- 
plained disease  that  is  destroying  the  crop  through- 
out the  world.  Gorn  cannot  flourish.  Fruits  and 
grapes  do  well  when  sheltered  from  the  frost.  The 
prices  of  produce  may  be  judged  of  somewhat  by  the 
following  rates,  which  was  about  the  average  price 
for  the  time  I  was  there  :  One  shilling  of  that  cur- 
rency is  worth  just  two  York  shillings  :  Wheat  was 
six  to  eight  shillings — though  I  have  known  it  as  low 
as  three  shillings,  and  again  as  high  as  thirty  shil- 
lings— ^barley  brought  five  shillings ;    potatoes  two 


ITS    CHARACTERISTICS. 


199 


1  the  sum- 
iseqiienc^ 
)S  dry  up, 
Good 
ty  to  one 
■  cattle  the 


g 


wamps  or 
eater  part 
ttlers  live 
n  four  and 
)  thousand 
ting  them 
however 
lys  a  sure 
I  not  only 
Id  of crops 
casionally 
dered  the 
Potatoes 
me  unex- 
>  through- 
ruits  and 
)st.     The 
hat  by  the 
age  price 
*  that  cur- 
^heat  was 
1  it  as  low 
lirty  shil- 
itoes  two 


shillings  and  six  pence  —  and  oats  two  shilHngs. 

The  roads  were  all  constructed  by  and  at  the  ex- 
pense of  government,  and  when  I  left  were  nearly 
completed.  They  are  first  graded,  somew'  ,t  simi- 
lar to  our  railroads,  then  a  layer  of  stone  five  inches 
thick  is  well  bedded  down,  and  upon  this  is  put  eight 
inches  of  pounded  stone,  and  the  whole  covered  with 
a  light  layer  of  earth,  sufficient  to  fill  the  interstices 
of  the  surface.  When  once  well  worn,  these  roads 
are  smooth  and  almost  as  hard  as  a  rock.  Not  only 
are  the  main  roads  thus  built,  but  cross  roads  and  ofF- 
setts  to  settlers'  houses.  The  government  was  about 
turning  its  convict  labor  to  farming  and  wheat  rais- 
ing. It  will  be  somewhat  easier  than  road  work,  yet 
hard  enough  in  all  conscience  for  the  poor  prisoner. 
No  animal  labor  is  used  on  the  works,  everything 
being  done  by  the  unaided  muscles  of  man. 

The  climate  is  generally  healthy.  Snow  is  nev- 
er seen,  except  in  isolated  flakes  that  vanish  almost  as 
soon  as  they  touch  the  earth.  The  winter  is  one 
continued  rain  storm,  the  days  being  moderate,  but 
the  nights  cold.  In  spring  and  autumn  the  nights 
are  also  cool.      '  '  ?"     -  ''  '  ■ 

Of  the  animals,  the  kangaroo  is  the  most  numer- 
ous. He  is  a  singular  animal,  possessing  a  good  de- 
gree of  speed,  but  is  not  long  winded — is  of  an  inof- 
fensive nature,  and  whose  flesh  is  considered  very 
palatable  eating.  They  use  their  hind  feet,  which 
are  very  much  longer  than  the  fore  feet,  mainly  for 
purposes  of  locomotion.     I  have  seen  them  at  times 


I,   •.  ' 
1    i 


I    I 


\ 


1  H!MM 
I  If 


I   J' 


P|!i!':fl- 


.HaV' 


h:  • 


200 


VAN   DIEMAN   AND 


when  hard  pressed  by  the  dog,  turn  in  defence,  and 
not  unfrequently  seize  their  pursuer  in  their  arms, 
hug  him  tightly,  whilst  they  would  bound  away  to  the 
nearest  water,  where  they  would  plunge  him  beneath 
the  surface  till  he  was  strangled.  Opossums,  badg- 
ers, and  rabbits  were  thick.  There  is  also  a  species 
of  wild  dog  or  wolf,  but  which  is  not  numerous.  The 
"devil,"  as  he  is  called  there — but  which  bears  no 
resemblance  inform  or  disposition  to  those  of  human 
shape  from  whom  we  suffered  so  much,  nor  indeed, 
to  their  great  father,  the  arch  fiend  himself — is  a  small 
black  animal,  with  a  thick  head  and  a  bushy  tail, 
about  the  size  of  a  common  cat.  Skunks  were  com- 
mon. There  were  no  ferocious  animals,  and  but  a 
few  species  of  the  serpent  kind,  all  of  which  were 
exceedingly  venomous  in  their  bite.  The  largest 
was  the  black  snake — four  and  five  feet  in  length. 
The  silver  snake  resembles  our  common  striped 
snake,  and  is  from  a  foot  to  eighteen  inches  long. 
The  crow  and  raven  are  found  here,  also  species  of 
the  eagle.  Parrots,  magpies  and  cockatoos  are  very 
numerous,  and  oflen  commit  serious  depredations  on 
the  crops  of  the  settlers.  They  are  often  caught  and 
tamed,  and  may  be  taught  to  imitate  the  human  voice. 
This  is  particularly  the  case  with  the  cockatoo,  which 
is  an  unmitigated  scoundrel,  seeking  all  manner  of 
mischief  that  he  can  get  into.  If  a  shirt  or  any  gar- 
ment be  left  within  their  reach,  the  buttons  are  sure 
to  disappear,  if  the  article  itself  is  not  dragged  away. 
I  have  seen  a  strong  jack-knife  taken  by  one  of  them 


.   *-tvl 


ITS    CHARACTERISTICS. 


201 


ice,  and 
ir  arms, 
ay  to  the 

beneath 
IS,  badg- 
i  species 
s.  The 
jears  no 
f  human 

indeed, 
s  a  small 
shy  tail, 
Bre  com- 
id  but  a 
ch  were 
I  largest 
L  length. 

striped 
es  long, 
ecies  of 
are  very 
tions  on 
ight  and 
n  voice. 
3,  which 
tnner  of 
-ny  gar- 
ire  sure 
d  away, 
of  them 


and  entirely  pulled  apart  and  every  rivet  extracted. 
There  is  a  bird-  commonly  called  a  jackass.  It  is  a 
homely  bird,  about  the  size  of  a  common  blackbird — 
is  a  melodious  singer,  and  a  great  favorite  with  the 
gentry  as  a  cage  bird.  It  possesses  quite  strong 
powers  of  imitation,  learning  to  pronounce  words  to 
a  limited  extent.  The  wattle  is  a  brownish  bird,  a 
trifle  La'ger  than  the  robin,  and  whose  flesh  is  esteem- 
ed a  delicacy.  A  small  kind  of  quail  is  found  ;  and 
ducks  are  numerous.  The  black  swan  is  seen  in 
considerable  numbers.  They  are  a  large  bird,  and 
sit  exceedingly  graceful  upon  the  water.  Those 
however  that  I  saw  were  of  a  mottled  color  and  ex- 
ceedingly beautiful.  Besides  these  mentioned,  there 
are  other  birds  of  a  smaller  size,  with  names  that  1 
knew  not,  but  all  presenting  a  different  appeai'ance 
from  our  own  warblers.  Taking  them  as  a  class, 
they  possess  more  beautiful  plumage,  but  less  melody 
of  voice  than  ours.  They  give  a  lively  appearance 
to  the  woods,  which  are  not  by  any  means  steeped 
in  silence.  * 

Of  the  insects,  the  bee,  butterfly,  wasp,  gnats,  flies, 
&c.,  were  numerous. 

The  forest  is  clothed  in  perpetual  green.  The 
timber  is  different  from  ours.  The  stringy  bark  and 
peppermint  I  have  already  spoken  of.  The  timber 
on  the  "tiers"  is  usually  very  large  and  tall.  The 
wattle,  with  needle  shaped  leaves,  and  of  which  there 
is  the  black,  white  and  silver,  is  a  small  scrubby  tree, 
never  growing  larger  than  eight  inches  in  diameter, 


'!!     it 


!! 


202 


VAN    DIEMAN    AND 


If 

I' 


I  t 


\    : 


J  '    1 


k 


\^ 


■  1 

1 

( 

1  ! 

n 

i 

I 

'  i  ■ 

■j 
'  ;  f 

T      ( 

and  is  considered  of  no  particular  value.  The  gum 
tree,  of  which  there  is  the  blue,  red  and  white,  grows 
to  a  large  size,  and  is  used  for  timber  and  lumber. 
The  wood  of  the  white  gum  is  as  white  as  our  bass, 
but  much  harder ;  the  red  exudes  a  very  bitter 
gum  of  a  beautiful  red  color.  It  is  often  found 
in  blisters  under  the  bark  and  in  seams  in  the  wood. 
This  species  is  free  rifted,  the  others  tough.  The 
bark  is  usually  shed  like  the  American  sycamore, 
when  it  presents  an  equally  picturesque  appearance 
among  its  fellow  trees.  There  are  two  kinds  of  oak, 
very  unlike  ours  and  of  little  worth.  The  white- 
wood  resembles  our  hickory,  particularly  in  the 
wood.  The  leaves  are  smaller  and  the  bark  less 
jagged.  The  honeysuckle  is  a  shrub  like  tree,  very 
soft,  and  of  which  shoemakers  manufacture  their 
lasts.  There  is  said  to  be,  in  some  places  near  the 
coast,  cider  trees,  which,  when  incisions  are  made 
upon  them,  exude  a  liquid  strongly  resembling  cider 
in  flavor.  There  is  a  sort  of  wild  cherry,  bearing 
red  fruit  about  the  size  of  a  pea,  and  which  is  quite 
pleasant  tasted.  These  comprise  all  the  principal 
part  of  the  trees  and  shrubs.  Brush  wood  abounds, 
but  no  native  vines,  or  any  thing  of  the  sort.  None 
of  the  trees  produce  edible  nuts,  nor  are  there  but  a 
few  berries — neither  are  flowers  abundant.  There 
is  a  sort  of  ground  fruit  dug  by  the  natives,  about  the 
size  of  one's  double  fist,  *  which  crumbles  into  parti- 
cles, looking  much  like  rice.  This  is  eaten  by  the 
natives,  who  are  quite  fond  of  it,  but  which  to  my 


ITS    CHARACTERISTICS. 


203 


taste  was  perfectly  insipid.  There  are  no  saw  mills 
on  the  island,  and  what  native  lumber  is  used,  is  cut 
out  with  whip  or  pit  saws,  at  a  cost  of  ten  to  twenty 
sterling  shillings  per  hundred  feet.  The  pine  lum- 
ber is  brought  from  England  and  New  Zealand,  at  a 
high  cost.  '-"■  ;,^-  -Hi--  '''■.:'-.  .--'^f  ,•^  ^  ;'=-:,-.,.-, 
The  thirtieth  of  September  we  landed  at  Melborne 
or  Port  Hope,  in  Australia,  and  the  next  day  hired 
to  a  settler  whose  estate  lay  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  into  the  country,  when  we  almost  immediately 
started  with  him  for  his  home.  ..      .:    ,...„,  .,... 


»fTf 


■•*  .*  t  - 


iiirAi  ^Mm 


M 


\<^  0. 


»i<. 


?M* 


'':R 


r-V^?' 


I    t.-r 


W> 


:ti 


r\  u 


f^iV^'' 


r 


'¥-^t> 


?f>* 


w 


!■«^*r"^^l/''^*;i' 


i^f'^l 


-fAi- 


■,\::  if 


\     M 


d^  ^yl^y^ 


■pit^i 


W'  fx 


-61' 


?»*»?' 


jt: 


i-^  ofi: 


•\\  eai:*^ 


.„,vp    ■  »-|i. 


^«  •_*,. 


•t^c^:^ 


>  ^-fet 


♦i- 


y-  -A:;    :f  ■ 


m\%  ^fl^m^i'H 


y  ■ 


tiff  "'■;.#' 


t^. 


I) 
ll 

p 


CHAPTER     XIV. 


rfi 


i'j-r.i^ 


1) 


I.  ;  { 


W 


'if 


i 


ml,    >■ 


H 


ji  ;• 

I'll 


AUSTRALIA. 


'"  It  was  just  the  commencement  of  the  shearing 
season.  Our  employer,  Anderson,  had  a  flock  of 
ten  thousand  sheep  and  ten  hands  shearing.  I  had 
sheared  some  at  Kimberly's,  and  had  so  far  got  my 
hand  in  that  I  could  do  nearly  a  full  day's  work — 
though  at  first  it  fatigued  me  exceedingly.  We  re- 
mained here  six  weeks,  shearing  at  the  rate  of  $3  a 
hundred.  Thence  we  went  to  Johnson^s,  eight  mileL"> 
distant,  where  we  continued  shearing  at  the  same 
wages  four  weeks  longer.  By  this  time  the  season 
was  pretty  much  over,  and  we  accepted  Johnson's 
ofTer  and  remained  with  him  as  shepherds,  at  a  sala- 
ry of  £26.  Johnson's  flock  numbered  twelve  thou- 
sand. When  the  following  season  came,  we  re- 
sumed the  shears  for  three  months.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  this  time  we  hoped  to  be  able  to  get  home. 
We  had  husbanded  every  shilling  that  we  could,  and 
though  we  knew  not  what  the  price  could  be,  flat- 
tered ourselves  that  at  least  by  some  freak  of  good 
fortune,  we  might  take  our  final  leave.  With  these 
thoughts,  and  knowing  that  the  London  wool  ships 
were  in  port  loading  for  home,  we  returned  to  Mel- 


AUSTRALIA. 


205 


t  * 


shearing 
I  flock  of 
I  had 
ir  got  my 
work — 
We  re- 
bof$3  a 
ight  milei"> 
the  sanie 
be  season 
Fohnson's 
at  a  sala- 
elve  thou- 
3,  we  re- 
le  expira- 
^et  home, 
sould,  and 
I  be,  flat- 
k  of  good 
/"ith  these 
^ool  ships 
d  to  Mel- 


borne.  We  tried  faithfully,  but  were  unable  to  ac- 
complish what  we  desired.  The  cheapest  fare  we 
could  find  exceeded  our  united  means  by  £80.  So 
we  saw  there  was  no  hope  of  getting  to  London — to 
say  nothing  of  the  distance  thence  to  New  York. 
Things  looked  gloomy  again  ;  for  we  had  worked 
our  anticipations  up  to  quite  a  high  pitch,  and  to  have 
them  thus  dashed  down  was,  to  say  the  least,  deci- 
dedly unpleasant.  We  saw  then  there  was  no  other 
alternative  than  to  strive  to  be  content  for  another 
year,  by  which  time  we  hoped  for  certain  to  leave 
that  part  of  the  world. 

We  now  engaged  to  another  settler,  by  the  name 
of  Wm.  Wilhs,  who  hved  two  hundred  miles  into 
the  country.  There  were  three  brothers  of  them  in 
company,  possessing  seventy  thousand  sheep  and 
two  thousand  cattle.  This  one  was  in  market  with 
his  wool,  which  having  disposed  of  and  purchased 
his  stores,  we  started  in  company  with  the  teamsters 
for  their  home. 

During  the  journey  we  came  upon  a  body  of  the 
natives,  who  were  having  a  sort  of  family  fight,  oc- 
casioned by  a  love  afiair.  If  two  or  more  happen  to 
be  suitors  at  the  same  shrine,  the  rivalry  is  settled  by 
an  appeal  to  arms,  and  he  who  remains  victor  of  the 
field  has  the  undisputed  claim  upon  the  affections  of 
the  fair  one.  In  this  instance,  the  defeated  one  had 
thrown  his  lance  and  pierced  the  woman  through  the 
neck,  killing  her  almost  instantly.  This  enraged 
others  of  the  tribe,  when  a  general  set-to  was  the  re- 


r 

IT 

1 

i 

h' 

h 

206 


AUSTRALIA. 


1 

"f        i 

f 
j  i 

1      * 

■i 
1 

' 

1   '       : 

i ' 

r     \ 
;      '■  1 

1 

ii 

¥ 

% 

suit;  in  which  a  number  were  wounded  and  throe 
or  four  killed.  ■'      ^   •  '•       '      .;,....    . 

Their  instruments  ofwarfare  are  the  lance  or  spear, 
which  is  made  of  the  very  hardest  kind  of  wood,  per- 
fectly round,  and  generally  eight  to  ten  feet  in  length, 
with  the  end  sharpened  and  notched.  They  have 
also  an  instrument  called  the  bumering.  It  is  made 
somewhat  in  the  shape  of  a  triangle,  of  the  root  of 
a  very  hard  kind  of  wood.  Each  of  the  three  sides 
is  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  in  length,  and  made 
thin  and  sharp  at  each  edge.  They  will  throw  them 
with  amazing  swiftness  and  an  unerring  aim.  The 
natives  have  the  art  of  throwing  them  so  as  to  des- 
cribe almost  any  curve  they  choose,  even  to  describ- 
ing an  almost  perfect  circle.      ■■   '^f^'      .t7y*fTfH;'i  «r*^ 

The  Australians  are  rt^ther  tall,  well  formed,  with 
straight  black  hair,  high  cheekbones,  and  a  color  of 
skin  between  the  Negro  and  Indian.  They  live  an 
easy,  jolly  life,  hating  work  worse  than  the  whites  do 
the  plague,  and  passionately  fond  of  tobacco.  Oc- 
casionally one  can  be  induced  to  turn  shepherd  for  a 
week,  or  even  to  roll  fleeces  for  an  hour  or  two,  but 
never  longer.  They  subsist  upon  roots  and  game, 
and  what  little  they  can  get  by  begging.  They  are 
exceedingly  expert  in  throwing  the  lance,  launching 
it  with  certainty  for  ten  or  twelve  rods,  and  even  to 
as  great  a  distance  as  twenty  rods.  By  this  means 
they  kill  the  kangaroo  and  the  wild  turkey,  of  which 
there  are  great  numbers.  These  creatures  are  very 
shy ;  so  shy  indeed  that  it  is  uncommon  that  a  whito 


hV- 


AUSTRALIA, 


207 


man  can  capture  one.  But  the  Australian  accom- 
plishes his  end,  by  securing  a  thick  bush  behind 
which  he  secretes  himself,  and  cautiously  creeps  for- 
ward whilst  the  bird  is  feeding  ;  but  the  moment  it 
lifts  its  head  the  bush  is  as  still  as  though  it  were 
itself  a  part  of  the  forest  or  plain.  Seeing  nothing 
suspicious,  the  feeding  is  resumed,  and  the  stealthy 
native  creeps  yet  closer.  Thus  he  continues  to  ad- 
vance until  near  enough  to  throw  hi^*  lance,  when 
the  bird  is  pretty  sure  to  be  victimized.  In  this  man- 
ner they  succeed  in  taking  them  quite  frequently. 
The  Australian  has  a  remarkable  acute  sense  of  see- 
ing. They  will  trace  animals  or  persons  by  their 
tracks,  when  the  European  can  see  nothing  at  all. 
They  will  discover  them,  though  they  be  made  on 
the  smoothest  rock.  It  matters  not  if  the  track,  be 
several  days  old  ;  they  will  follow  it  with  a  fidelity 
almost  equal  to  that  of  the  dog.  They  are  engaged 
frequently  to  hunt  the  Bush  Rangers  of  Sydney, 
Melborne,  and  other  places  in  Australia.  They  go 
entirely  naked,  except  when  about  the  towns,  where 
the  whites  compel  them  to  wear  something  to  hide 
their  nakedness,  but  which  they  soon  throw  aside. 
The  climate  is  warmer  than  in  Van  Dieman,  and  is 
very  mild  and  salubrious,  which  probably  is  one  rea- 
son why  they  live  in  no  houses  or  huts.  When  the 
weather  is  cool  and  windy,  they  weave  together 
boughs  as  a  rude  defence,  perhaps  build  a  fire  in  the 
centre  around  which  they  huddle,  squatting  on  the 
ground.     They  have  such  a  horror  of  fire  arms  that 


i^'j, 


i  j 


Ill' 


HI 


208 


AUSTRALIA. 


IS 


ill 


one  gun  will  put  to  flight  a  hundred  of  them.  But 
if  they  can  creep  up  unseen  to  a  sheph  ^'s  hut,  they 
may  impale  him  with  their  spears,  or  s..  .1  away  his 
victuals.  Yet  they  commit  very  few  murders,  and 
those  mostly  toward  the  interior.  - 

We  had  an  easy  time  of  it  sheep-tending.  Each 
shepherd  has  in  charge  one  thousand  sheep.  To 
each  station  are  three  shepherds,  and  at  the  hut  or 
station  is  another  person,  styled  station-keeper,  who 
remains  there  through  the  day — takes  care  of  the 
hut,  cooks  the  victuals,  guards  the  sheep  when  they 
are  brought  in  at  night,  and  sleeps  in  a  little  watch 
box  close  by  the  yard  till  morning — that  he  may  be 
at  hand  in  case  of  any  attack  by  wild  dogs.  The 
yard,  or  hurdle,  as  it  is  termed,  is  composed  of  very 
light  frame  work,  which  can  be  easily  removed  and 
quickly  set  up  again,  when  it  becomes  necessary  to 
change  the  station  for  a  better  range.  In  the  morn- 
ing the  shepherd  receives  his  flock  from  the  hands 
of  the  station  tender,  when  he  leads  them  forth  upon 
his  range,  which  is  often  two  miles  in  extent,  and 
perhaps  gives  them  in  charge  of  his  dog,  whilst  he 
reclines  himself  in  the  umbrageous  shade  to  enjoy  the 
pleasant  companionship  of  some  book,  or  perchance 
to  sleep  and  dream  away  the  hours  in  some  delicious 
reverie.  Thus  I  spent  many  a  day,  particularly  at 
Willis',  who  furnished  us  with  many  books  and 
papers. 

Had  it  been  the  home  of  my  friends,  or  of  my 
choice,  I  could  have  remained  there  happy  and  con- 


Ml  i 


I  ^~k^ 


AUSTRALIA. 


209 


n.     But 

lilt,  they 
iway  his 
Brs,  and 

Each 
3p.  To 
e  hut  or 
Der,  who 
e  of  the 
len  they 
e  watch 

maybe 
R.     The 

of  very 
)ved  and 
ssary  to 
le  morn- 
le  hands 
rth  upon 
tent,  and 
whilst  he 
mjoy  the 
jrchance 
delicious 
ilarly  at 
oks  and 

r  of  my 
and  con- 


tented. As  it  was,  I  enjoyed  myself  infinitely  bet- 
ter than  I  did  on  Van  Dieman's  Land.  In  ni)  lium- 
ble  opinion,  it  is  one  of  the  best  countries  for  a  poor 
man,  as  far  as  money-getting  is  concerned,  tlie;e  is 
on  the  globe.  It  matters  not  if  one  is  deprived  of  an 
arm  or  leg,  he  can  secure  just  as  good  wages — which 
range  from  £20  to  £30 — for  the  labor  of  the  shep- 
herd and  also  of  the  station-tender  is  easy  and  read- 
ily performed.  Society,  though,  is  based  upon  wealth 
for  its  foundation — the  same  in  this  respect  as  in  Van 
Dieman.  Still,  it  is  less  degraded,  because  there  are 
far  less  convicts  mixed  in,  and  these  are  for  the  most 
part  confined  to  the  towns  on  the  seaboard.     ' 

The  amount  of  rations  allowed  each  shepherd  for 
a  week,  is  usually  ten  pounds  of  flour,  one  pound  of 
sugar,  two  ounces  of  tea,  and  as  much  meat  as  he 
desires.  If  he  wishes  for  vegetables,  or  aught  else, 
he  has  the  privilege  of  purchasing  them  from  his  wa- 
ges. Salt  is  plenty,  and  is  procured  from  salt  lakes, 
further  toward  the  interior.  Farmers  usually  send 
their  men  to  these  lakes  annually  for  their  supply. 
It  is  gathered  with  ease  from  the  shores,  where  it  is 
found  in  large  quantities  already  crystalized  for  use. 

The  land  is  owned  by  government,  and  leased  to 
the  settlers  for  any  desired  length  of  time  for  the  an- 
nual rent  of  £10 — whether  the  estate  be  large  or 
small — whilst  whatever  improvements  be  made  by 
the  settler,  in  buildings,  &;c.,  are  paid  for  at  the  expi- 
ration of  his  lease.  They  scarce  ever  have  any 
fence  to  mark  the  division  lines,  which  are  usually 
14 


210 


AUSTRALIA. 


I  I! 


traced  by  heaps  of  stone,  or  a  furrow  jnaJc  with  the 
plow,  or,  as  they  do  here,  by  ''blazed"  trees.  But 
a  very  scant  quantity  of  grain  is  raised,  except  in  the 
vicinity  of  towns,  where  mills  exist.  Nevertheless, 
the  soil  is  well  adai)ted  to  purposes  of  agriculture. 
It  is  truly  a  splendid  country,  generally  level  or  gently 
undulating — covered  here  and  there  with  noble,  open 
forests,  carpeted  with  a  rich  verdure,  whilst  largo 
plains  are  interspersed,  always  covered  with  a  most 
luxuriant  growth  of  grass.  Aye,  the  woods  are  en- 
chanting— with  their  myriads  of  bright  plumaged 
birds,  and  the  gaudy  peacock — which,  here  in  its 
wild  state,  far  exceeds  its  domesticated  kindred  in 
size  and  proud  bearing,  and  the  unrivalled  brilliancy 
of  its  plumes.  It  is  indeed  a  country  where  the  seek- 
er after  wealth,  wivh  a  little  capital,  can  grow  rich 
more  surely  than  in  delving  among  the  auriferous 
sands  of  the  Sacramento.  And  it  is  a  place,  too, 
where  the  lover  of  nature  and  the  worshipper  of  the 
beautiful,  may  find  themes  worthy  of  their  contem 
plation  and  adoration. 

In  reahty  I  enjoyed  myself  much  whilst  here,  bur 
not  so  highly  as  I  could,  had  I  been  placed  in  other 
circumstances.  Home  was  almost  ever  on  my  mind, 
and  the  anxiety  to  see  it  again  before  I  died  lay  heavy 
on  my  thoughts,  marring  the  pleasure  that  else  1 
could  have  feasted  upon.  Living  quite  alone  by 
ourselves,  the  fictitious  grades  of  society  affected  us 
not,  nor  cared  we  much  for  them.  We  now  had  our 
liberties,  though  toiling  for  means — means  that  should 


a 

ot 


i 


A 


AUSTRALIA. 


211 


0  with  thr 

'CCS.     But 

ccpt  in  the 

vcrthelcs!:!, 

gi'iculturc. 

d1  or  gently 

loble,  open 

hilst  largo 

vith  a  most 

ods  are  cn- 

plumaged 

here  in  its 

kindred  in 

id  brilliancy 

sre  the  seek - 

1  grow  rich 

e  auriferous 

place,  too, 

ipper  of  the 

leir  contem 

1st  here,  but 
jed  in  other 
m  my  mind, 
3d  lay  heavy 
!  that  else  1 
te  alone  by 
'  affected  us 
now  had  our 
s  that  should 


nave  been  granted  us  by  the  British  Government— 
lo  enable  us  to  see  blessed  America  again.  This 
thought  sweetened  our  solitude,  and  in  some  slight 
degree  lessened  our  anxiety.  I  recruited  up  amaz- 
ingly  in  my  physical  energies.  The  cough  that  had 
so  long  afllicted  me  was  sensibly  diminishing,  and  I 
felt  more  rugged  and  better  enabled  to  endure  fa- 
tigue. ■  -  :  '^I'.O'H.iT     1..;      M,;,    .  ,        I,     ^.      .      ,  ■       , 

The  timber  of  Australia  includes  the  kinds  found 
on  Van  Dieman,  but  is  generally  more  thrifty  and 
of  better  quality.  There  are  more  brooks  and  larg- 
er streams,  which  in  the  wet  season  are  deep  and 
difficult  of  fording.  In  the  dry  season  their  volume 
was  very  small,  often  disappearing  entirely.  There 
were  no  springs  in  the  country,  or  at  least,  none  that 
I  saw  or  heard  of.  Water  of  good  quality  was  ob- 
tained by  sinking  wells  to  a  depth  of  thirty-five  and 
fifty  feet.        ..'i  f»t<i^  ;;:;  *v     '  ':  .  :       \  u'  •. 

Of  the  birds  there  was  a  larger  variety,  embracing 
all  the  kinds  of  Van  Dieman.  Besides  those  I  have 
mentioned,  there  is  another  large  fowl,  standing  some 
five  feet  high,  and  somewhat  resembling,  but  heavier 
than  our  blue  heron  or  common  crane.  It  is  a  land 
bird,  easily  domesticated,  and  a  great  pet.  Black 
swans  are  very  thick.  Of  the  animals,  besides  those 
mentioned  as  on  Van  Dieman,  there  is  a  curious  one 
inhabiting  muddy  waters.  It  is  between  the  size  of 
a  mink  and  muskrat,  and  nearly  of  the  color  of  the 
ot^'jr.  It  has  a  mouth  very  greatly  resembling  a 
duck't  bill,  and  is  sometimes  known  by  that  name, 


AUSTRALIA. 


I  '. 


I  i 


but  more  generally  by  that  of  platipus.  It  is  a  very 
shy  animal,  seldom  seen,  except  when  it  rises  to  the 
surface  for  air,  when  it  remains  but  for  a  moment. 
It  is  generally  then  that  the  cautious  hunter  is  ena- 
bled to  shoot  it.  Its  fur  is  exceedingly  fine  and  soft 
and  much  valued,  the  pelts  usually  selling  at  £1  a 
piece. 

We  continued  with  Willis  as  shepherds  nine 
]nonths,  and  then  took  up  the  shears  again  for  a  little 
better  than  three  months.  We  then  had  about  £90 
or  #450  each,  by  which  we  hoped  to  succeed  in  reach- 
ing America.  There  was  with  Willis  a  young  man 
by  the  name  of  Alfred  Young,  whom  both  W^hitney 
and  myself  respected  quite  highly  for  his  amiable 
qualities,  which  we  learned  at  my  cost  were  only  hyp- 
ocritical. He  was  aware  we  had  funds,  barely  suffi- 
cient to  enable  us  to  reach  home,  and  that  we  were 
exceedingly  anxious  to  leave  at  that  time.  About  a 
fortnight  before  our  leave.  Young  solicited  a  loan  of 
JE20,  to  pay,  as  he  said,  for  a  horse  which  he  had  but 
recently  purchased.  As  security,  he  offered  to  give 
me  an  order  on  Willis,  with  whom  he  said  he  had  not 
yet  settled.  I  was  loth  to  refuse  him,  for  I  had  the 
most  unbounded  confidence  in  his  integrity ;  still  I 
was  fearful  some  untoward  circumstance  might  trans- 
pire which  would  prevent  my  receiving  it  in  time. 
I  asked  Whitney's  advice,  who  replied,  that  in  any 
other  circumstances  than  we  were  now  placed,  he 
would  not  hesitate  a  moment ;  but  at  this  time,  he 
should  be  exceedingly  reluctant  to  accommodate  the 


'li  ! 


AUSTRALIA. 


213 


is  a  very 
ises  to  the 

moment. 

r  is  ena- 
e  and  soft 
s:  at  £1  a 

erds  nine 
for  a  little 
xbout  £90 
d  in  reach- 
^cung  man 
1  Whitney 
lis  amiable 
5  only  hyp- 
arely  suffi- 
it  we  were 
,  About  a 
d  a  loan  of 
,  he  had  but 
red  to  give 
he  had  not 
r  I  had  the 
ity  ;  still  I 
light  trans- 
it in  time, 
hat  in  any 
placed,  he 
is  time,  he 
modate  the 


dearest  friend ;  still  he  did  not  know  as  he  could  re- 
fuse him,  for  he  had  no  suspicion  of  his  dishonesty. 
I  had  with  me  only  an  £18  draft ;  this  I  loaned  Young, 
who  left  on  Friday,  the  next  day,  to  return  on  the 
following  Monday.  Monday  came,  and  Tuesday, 
but  no  Young.  Wednesday  also.  My  fears  were 
much  excited.  I  went  to  Willis  and  asked  him  when 
he  expected  Young  back.  He  looked  somewhat  as- 
tonished, and  replied  he  did  not  expect  him  at  all,  for 
he  had  settled  with  him  and  paid  him  some  ten  days 
before,  and  he  had  now  gone  to  Adelaide,  a  thousand 
miles  distant.  This  was  indeed  a  cold  bath  to  my 
warm  hopes.  I  went  back  to  the  shearing  floor 
down-hearted  enough.  I  was  now  almost  sure  that 
I  should  be  obliged  to  remain  another  year  to  accumu- 
late a  sufficiency  of  funds.  It  may  be  imagined  how 
pleasantly  I  felt  towards  Alfred  Young,  who  had 
played  this  piece  of  black-hearted  villainy  upon  me. 
Whitney  strove  to  comfort  me  by  exhorting  me  to 
keep  up  a  brave  heart,  for  so  long  as  he  had  a  dollar 
I  should  share  it  with  him,  and,  come  what  would,  he 
would  not  leave  me  alone.  I  thanked  him  heartily, 
but  still  I  could  not  but  beUeve  we  should  be  com- 
pelled to  stay  another  year  ;  for  all  that  we  had  was 
not  enough  to  take  us  even  to  London.  We  con- 
cluded, however,  to  make  the  effort,  hoping  we  might 
liftd  some  fellow  countryman  who  would  have  some 
pity  for  us  and  help  us  homeward.  It  was  about  this 
time,  too,  that  I  accidentally  lost  my  pardon.  Though 
it  was  but  a  bit  of  paper,  I  would  not  have  parted  with 


:hd 


lii 


V       f 


214 


AUSTRALIA. 


■•  .'!! 


:  } 


I 


4:      ' 


it  for  much  money.  I  had  come  to  look  upon  it  as 
a  sort  of  precious  relic — a  memento  from  the  power 
that  held  us  so  ci'uelly,  but  which  had  relented.  Aye, 
it  was  to  me  a  little  treasure,  and  one  which  I  had 
hoped  to  keep  to  my  dying  day.  -^    -  :  - 

At  last  we  bid  adieu  to  the  Willis's  and  took  our 
course  to  Malborne.  We  found  no  ships  here  bound 
homeward  ;  nor  was  there  much  probability  of  any 
American  vessels  visiting  this  port.  We  therefore 
concluded  it  most  advisable  to  go  to  Sydney,  eleven 
hundred  miles  distant,  and  where  American  ships, 
particularly  whalers,  frequently  put  in.  We  tarried 
six  weeks  looking  for  an  opportunity,  during  all 
which  time  we  were  under  rather  heavy  expenses, 
without  having  any  chances  to  earn  anything  by  way 
of  work  or  jobs.  Our  board  was  £1  each  per  week, 
whilst  our  passage  to  Sydney  cost  us  seven  other 
pounds  sterling.  Melborne  is  situated  on  the  river 
Yara,  sixty  miles  from  its  mouth.  It  is  quite  a  thriv- 
ing town,  containing  ten  thousand  or  more  inhabi- 
tants. Its  chief  trade,  as  also  of  the  other  ports  on 
the  island,  is  in  wool,  hides,  tallow,  &c.  There  are 
no  woolen  manufactories,  as  the  staple  is  all  export- 
ed to  England.  A  level,  fertile  plain,  surrounds  the 
town,  which  yields  heavy  crops  of  grain  or  vegeta- 
bles. 

After  several  days  of  tumbling  in  a  small  vessdl, 
we  were  in  Sydney,  the  largest  town  in  all  Austra- 
lia, and  which  is  situated  on  a  beautiful  cove,  that 
znakes  for  it  a  commodious  harbor.     It  is  about  the 


AUSTRALIA. 


215 


on  it  as 
e  power 
Aye, 
h  I  had 

ook  our 
•e  bound 
"■  of  any 
herefore 

eleven 
n  ships, 
e  tarried 
iring  all 
xpenses, 

byway 
ler  week, 
en  other 
the  river 
:e  a  thriv- 
e  inhabi- 
ports  on 
^'here  are 
11  export- 
Dunds  the 
r  vegeta- 

11  vessel, 
11  Austra- 
;ove,  that 
iibout  the 


size  of  Buffalo,  and  though  not  so  well  constructed, 
is  nevertheless  quito  a  pretty  town,  driving  a  brisk 
business  in  the  staple  trade.  The  country  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  around  is  cultivated,  and  its  fertile 
fields  yield  remunerating  products  to  the  farmer. 

Here  we  found  the  whaler  Kingston,  of  New  Bed- 
ford, which  came  into  port  the  same  day  that  we  ar- 
rived. She  had  been  out  on  an  unsuccessful  voyage 
of  four  years  ;  her  crew  taking  in  the  time  only  four- 
teen hundred  and  forty  barrels  of  oil.  With  so  small 
a  cargo  the  captain  was  ashamed  to  go  home.  So, 
with  little  honor  and  less  honesty,  he  determined  to 
sell  the  cargo,  appropriating  the  proceeds  to  his  own 
benefit,  and  send  his  ship  home  by  other  hands.  Ac- 
cordingly he  disposed  of  fourteen  hundred  barrels, 
leaving  forty  on  board  for  means  to  raise  funds  in 
case  of  distress,  discharged  the  crew  and  hired  anoth- 
er set  throughout.  He  found  in  the  place  an  old  cap- 
tain, a  native  of  New  York,  who  for  several  years 
had  sailed  between  London  and  Sydney,  and  who 
was  anxious  to  return  to  America.  A  bargain  was 
concluded,  and  the  new — or  rather  the  old — captain 
was  master  of  the  Kingston.  We  had  called  on  the 
American  captain  as  soon  as  we  ascertained  his  ship 
was  homeward  bound.  At  first  he  charged  us  $*300 
each  for  a  passage.  This  amount  was  more  than  I 
now  possessed.  We  represented  to  him  under  what 
circumstances  we  had  been  brought  there,  when  he 
generously  lowered  the  price  to  two  hundred  dollars 
for  us   both.     Aye,  this  was  a  bright  day  to  us. 


r  ''iti 


,    .      ■        ■■«".. 

i  ^  •  )  '  f" ! 
I  i  ■   ■ 


216 


AUSTRALIA. 


How  quickly  the  sky  before  us  became  clear  and 
beautifully  radiant  I  Yes,  we  were  now  in  a  fair 
way  of  seeing  home  ;  and  our  ship  with  no  loading 
would  the  quicker  speed  its  way  to  its  destined  port. 
How  fortunate  !  and  surely  what  happy  mortals  we 
then  were.  After  a  five  weeks'  sojourn  at  Sydney, 
we  were  on  board  the  Kingston,  Capt.  Mead,  look- 
ing our  last  farewell  on  AustraUa.  Oh !  how  heart- 
ily glad  we  were,  that  indeed  we  were  now  actually 
leaving  that  part  of  the  world,  wherein  we  had  not 
only  witnessed  so  much  of  sorrow  and  suffering,  but 
had  felt  it  so  keenly.  -»   v       ,.  .  v;,       v^... 


■   :■'   v--/:.,;   ■•■^r*'!.' 


Vl:   "    > 


■.:.  >fi,  :•: 


.?.-.' 


1   ■ 


r^'-atJ  v^T' 


:'^v.r    .•;■ 


^V\. 


•H 


It.',      'v. 


Avu  ,.^-5 : 


.  '     .1.;  vp'-*^'. :;  f,i  i^s^•.^. ,    •'  ••>.;' 


-'/t      :>■ /* 


.  .     .  •■  !    1 


-.'■  ^;ni:/V  .-,•'•»  .:i 


I  '  .1 

■I 


f»' 


; 


■lU 


( 


lear  and 
in  a  fair 
)  loading 
led  port. 
>rtals  we 
Sydney, 
ad,  look- 
ovv  heart- 
actually 
had  not 
(ring,  but 


'.-'< 


V(.    « 


:-fir       ■;'  .>■ 


•MJ- JW'"^.^ 


i;':-^-; 


;-> 


CHAPTER    XV. 


:*wi 


PASSAGE      HOME  —  FRIENDS,      ETC. 


Our  orders  from  the  ex-captain  were,  to  sail  direct- 
ly for  New  Bedford,  taking  what  whale  we  could  on 
the  passage.  Including  the  captain  and  officers,  with 
Whitney  and  myself,  there  were  twenty-four  souls 
aboard  the  Kingston,  which  was  a  staunch  built  boat 
and  a  fair  sailor.  At  first  the  weather  was  pleasant 
and  our  saiHng  was  dehghtsome.   ^  ^  ^    %'      i^      ^^ 

We  bore  down  in  sight  of  Van  Dieman's  Land. 
It  yet  looked  detestable  to  me ;  and  still  there  was 
beauty  in  its  outward  appearance.  Thus  it  often  is, 
that  our  associations  make  hidious  what  otherwise 
might  be  very  pleasant.  But  there  indeed  the  tyrants 
had  deformed  the  loveliness  of  nature,  and  made  the 
sylvan  wilderness  a  pandemonium  of  misery.  How 
then  could  a  fair  exterior  look  beautiful  to  him  who 
knew  of  the  vile  abominations  that  lay  hid  within  ? 
I  had  learned  from  the  former  captain  of  the  Kings- 
ton, who  stopped  at  Hobart,  that  all  the  Canadian 
prisoners  had  been  hberated,  and  but  three  were  yet 
remaining  on  the  island.  These  were  rather  disso- 
lute in  their  habits  and  could  not  get  means  to  leave, 


i''^ 

n 

t 

I" 

, 

1' 

1  ••'  ' 

•    ■ 

f 

1 

! 
1 

I 

<;i 


I 


II 


i'P 


218 


PASSAGE    HOME. 


and  indeed  they  did  not  seem  to  care  much  whether 
they  did  or  not.  Twelve  or  thirteen  of  our  original 
number  left  their  bones  in  that  land  ;  but  whether 
their  bones  are  now  there,  is  another  question,  for 
beyond  doubt  some  of  them  may  now  be  hanging  in 
some  doctor's  office  in  old  England,  or  elsewhere. 
Quite  a  traffic  of  this  nature  is  carried  on  there. 

We  had  not  been  to  sea  many  days  when  we  were 
overtaken  with  rough  weather  ;  and  for  two  weeks 
I  again  experienced  the  horrors  of  sea-sickness,  but 
not  under  such  grievous  circumstances  as  when  on 
board  the  Buffalo.  It  undoubtedly  proved  a  great 
benefit  to  me,  for  my  health  afterward  improved  rap- 
idly. My  appetite  too  was  exceedingly  active,  whilst 
the  cough  grew  less  and  less.  From  this  time  till 
we  doubled  Cape  Horn  we  had  ordinary  weather. 
Here  we  experienced  the  most  terrific  storm  I  ever 
witnessed.  For  four  days  and  nights  we  were  driv- 
en under  bare  poles,  expecting  almost  hourly  to  find 
our  home  down,  down  in  the  briny  deep.  The  weath- 
er was  cold,  with  sleet  and  snow  that  encased  every 
thing  about  the  ship  in  a  glare  of  ice.  It  may  bo 
more  readily  imagined  than  described,  how  dreary 
and  forlorn  was  our  situation,  with  the  cold  southern 
waves  breaking  over  our  decks,  and  threatening  to 
cngulph  our  gallant  ship. 

Below  deck  we  found  it  almost  as  difficult  to  keep 
our  position,  though  we  had  in  a  good  measure  be- 
come familiar  with  the  ordinary  pitching  of  the  ves- 
sel.    We  could  not  with  any  certainty  steer  clear  of 


PASSAGE    HOME. 


219 


whether 

original 

whether 

:ion,  for 

nging  in 

ewhere. 

re. 

we  were 

0  weeks 
less,  but 
vhen  on 

1  a  great 
>ved  rap- 
^e,  whilst 

time  till 
weather, 
n  I  ever 
ere  driv- 
ly  to  find 
le  weath- 
}d  every 

may  bo 
^v  dreary 
southern 
tening  to 

t  to  keep 

isure  be- 

the  ves- 

:  clear  of 


any  particular  object.  If  we  laid  our  course  across 
the  cabin,  ten  chances  to  one  if  we  did  not  find  our- 
selves stretched  at  length,  or  pitched  into  a  heap  be- 
neath the  table,  or  in  some  other  unwilling  but  not- 
to-be-helped  position.  Often  were  we  obliged  to  cut 
antics  that  caused  many  a  hearty  laugh  from  our 
comrades.  If  we  undertook  to  sup  a  saucer  of  cof- 
fee, it  more  often  found  its  way  into  the  bosom  than 
into  the  throat.  Nevertheless  we  came  safely  out  of 
the  storm,  suffering  but  slight  damage. 

Thence  we  had  fine  weather  and  wind  till  we  ar- 
rived at  the  equator,  where  for  three  days  we  lay 
becalmed  beneath  a  burning,  vertical  sun,  and  on  a 
sea  that  lay  as  motionless  as  though  it  had  been  so 
much  glass.  As  we  neared  our  native  land,  our  long- 
ings grew  more  and  more  intense,  and  the  slightest 
delay  seemed  prolonged  into  hours  and  days.  Here 
we  were,  laying  perfectly  motionless — not  even  the 
most  doubtful  zephyr  to  allay  the  sweltering  heat ; 
while  we  knew  not  but  we  might  be  compelled  to 
lay  thus  for  weeks.  We  were  in  no  very  agreeable 
mood,  yet  we  strove  to  be  as  contented  as  we  could. 
Having  the  whole  range  of  the  ship,  we  amused  our- 
selves as  much  as  possible.  Compared  to  our  out- 
ward passage,  our  condition  was  infinitely  better;  and 
when  we  reverted  to  our  situations  then,  and  drew 
the  contrast,  our  murmerings  vanished,  for  we  were 
indeed  happy  though  impatient.  While  thus  laying 
becalmed,  the  mates  one  day  invited  me  to  enjoy  with 
them  a  sea  bath.     Accordingly  we  robed  ourselves  in 


tir 


220 


PASSAGE    HOME. 


I*.       i  ; 


5-  , 


P 


a  bathing  dress  and  plunged  over  the  ship's  side. 
We  had  not  sported  in  the  water  but  a  few  minutes, 
when  we  heard  the  voice  of  the  captain,  who  was 
leaning  over  the  railing,  crying — "A  shark!"  We 
comprehended  the  danger  without  any  explanation. 
I  was  the  farthest  from  the  ship,  and  though  but  three 
or  four  rods  distant,  was  so  frightened  that  I  could 
scarcely  use  my  hmbs.  Ropes  were  immediately 
thrown  to  us  by  the  sailors,  who  hauled  us  in  as 
speedily  as  possible,  myself  barely  escaping  the  mon- 
ster, which  swam  directly  under  me  just  at  the  mo- 
ment I  was  elevated  from  the  water.  For  my  own 
part,  having  no  particular  affection  for  sharks,  I  was 
afterward  careful  how  I  exposed  myself  to  their  sal- 
utations. I  preferred  to  admire  their  beauties  at  a 
respectful  distance,  and  therefore  kept  not  only  my 
head,  but  my  whole  person,  "above  water."  '"^-*' 
The  third  day  a  light  breeze  sprang  up,  which 
wafted  us  within  the  influence  of  the  trade  winds, 
when  we  again  made  good  progress.  We  had  not 
seen  any  whale  yet.  The  crew  had  no  anxiety  upon 
the  matter,  and  therefore  the  man  at  mast-head  took 
no  pains  to  discover  the  animals,  or  if  discovering 
any,  he  kept  the  knowledge  a  secret.  They  did  not 
wish  to  expose  themselves  to  the  perils  of  whale 
catching  at  the  common  wages  they  were  receiving, 
and  too,  when  they  should  draw  no  bounty  on  what 
they  took.  I  had  never  witnessed  the  sport,  and  was 
anxious  to  see  a  bit  of  it.  At  length  I  was  gratified. 
**  There  she  spouts !"  was  heard  from  the  mast-head. 


PASSAGE    HOME. 


221 


s  side, 
linutes, 
ho  was 
We 
mation. 
ut  three 
I  could 
ediately 
IS  in  as 
le  mon- 
th e  mo- 
ny  own 
s,  I  was 
leir  sal- 
ies  at  a 
nly  my 

),  which 
3  winds, 
had  not 
sty  upon 
sad  took 
5overing 
r  did  not 
f  whale 
ceiving, 
on  what 
and  was 
;ratified. 
ist-head. 


"  Wliere  away  ?"  "Dead  ahead,"  was  the  reply  ; 
and  sure  enough  we  were  running  under  a  /inc 
breeze  full  upon  a  school  of  sperm.  The  man  aloft 
could  not  now  avoid  giving  the  cry  without  a  glaring 
neglect  of  duty.  h,Mi  .:,    .. 

The  sails  were  taken  in,  the  speed  of  the  ship,  aba- 
ted, and  when  within  half  a  mile,  two  boats,  under 
the  charge  of  the  mates,  let  down  aud  pulled  away 
for  the  victim.  I  was  anxious  to  accompany  the 
ni«{i,.but  not  being  experienced  in  the  business,  was 
not  permitted  by  the  captain.  Accordingly  I  ascend- 
ed to  the  cross  trees  to  witness  the  scene.  The  boats 
approached  the  whale  selected,  when  the  mate 
launched  the  harpoon  deep  within  the  monster's  flesh, 
when  he  darted  off  at  a  speed  that  seemed  to  me  in- 
credible. The  length  of  the  rope  was  quickly  reach- 
ed, when  the  boat,  with  its  bows  depressed  quite  even 
with  the  surface,  shot  through  the  water  like  an  ar- 
row, scattering  the  foam  from  its  sides  like  liquid  sil- 
ver. Whilst  the  rope  is  being  paid  out,  one  man 
stands  with  a  pail  and  tub  of  water  to  prevent  igni- 
tion by  keeping  the  coil  of  rope  wet,  whilst  another 
stands  with  uplifted  hatchet,  ready  to  sever  it  the 
moment  there  is  danger  of  being  dragged  beneath 
the  waves :  for  it  is  sometimes  the  case  that  the 
whale  descends  so  deep,  or  runs  so  swiftly,  that  he 
would  submerge  the  boat  unless  this  precaution  were 
taken.  In  this  instance,  the  creature  darted  off  in  a 
direct  line  for  a  full  mile  and  a  half,  when  it  turned 
almost  short  about  and  nearly  retraced  its  course  with 


222 


PASSAGE    HOME. 


\ 


i 


!  ,  1.1 


Pm 


•  l 


mt 


a  velocity  that  little  diminished  until  it  came  near  the 
ship,  where  it  stopped.  The  line  was  then  hauled 
in,  and  the  boat  approached  near  enough  to  use  the 
lance.  At  the  first  stroke  the  boat  was  stove  and  the 
men  precipitated  into  the  water.  Another  boat  was 
close  at  hand,  which  soon  rescued  them  all,  none  re- 
ceiving any  serious  injury.  The  whale  made  no 
farther  attempt  tO  escape,  but  lashed  the  water  furi- 
ously till  it  was  like  a  seething  pot.  The  lancers 
continued  their  duty,  till  in  a  short  time  the  creotyje 
lay  a  motionless  bulk  upon  the  water,  which  for  some 
distance  around  was  almost  as  crimson  as  the  life  cur- 
rent itself.    i.^.«v..    .w.  ,..   ?      >,  .     . 

i  The  carcass  was  then  towed  to  the  ship's  side  and 
made  fast,  when  the  upper  jaw  with  the  head  was  re- 
moved to  the  deck.  Men  then  descended  with  hatch- 
ets to  cut  the  blubber,  which  was  five  or  six  inches 
in  thickness,  overlaying  the  meat  or  muscle,  into 
strips  from  the  heac  downward.  This  done,  they 
were  loosened  at  the  upper  extremity,  hooks  fastened 
therein,  and  by  the  aid  of  pulleys  and  ropes,  pulled 
off  and  raised  on  deck.  These  blankets  were  next 
cut  into  blocks  six  and  eight  inches  square,  which 
was  conveyed  to  the  mincing  block,  where  they  were 
minced  fine  and  then  put  in  the  trying  kettles,  which 
at  first  were  heated  with  coal  or  wood,  but  afterward 
with  the  scraps.  The  blubber  being  all  secured,  the 
carcass  was  set  adrift  for  the  benefit  of  sharks,  &c. 
The  jaw  and  head,  as  they  lay  on  the  deck,  were 
some  seven  feet  long,  and  three  and  a  half  or  four 


PASSAGE    HOME. 


22a 


)ar  the 
hauled 
se  the 
md  the 
lat  was 
)ne  re- 
ide  no 
r  furi- 
ancers 
•eoty/e 
•r  soine 
ife  cur- 

ide  and 
was  re- 
1  hatch- 
inches 
le,  into 
e,  they 
Bistened 
,  pulled 
•e  next 
,  which 
jy  were 
I,  which 
;erward 
red,  the 
is,  (fee. 
k,  were 
or  four 


feet  thick.  A  hole  was  cut  through  tlic  blubber  and 
flesh  some  three  feet  deep,  when  there  appeared  u 
hard  tough  case,  looking  as  black,  and  about  the 
thickness  of  strong  cowhide.  This  was  perforated, 
and  three  barrels  of  oil,  of  the  very  purest  quality, 
were  dipped  from  the  cavity  beneath.  This  is  one 
of  the  peculiarities  of  the  sperm  whale  ;  but  for  wliat 
purpose  such  a  reservoir  is  designed,  is  more  than  1 
am  able  to  explain.  It  was  a  small  whale,  yielding 
but  twenty-four  barrels,  which  we  were  three  days 
in  securing.  During  this  time,  Whitney,  the  cap- 
tain and  I,  amused  ourselves  with  the  multitude  ol' 
sharks  that  surrounded  the  vessel.  They  were  ex- 
ceedingly ravenous,  and  took  not  a  few  mouthfulls 
of  the  blubber  whilst  the  men  were  engaged  at  their 
work.  We  had  on  board  a  large  number  of  stout, 
long  handled  spades,  that  were  ground  exceedingly 
sharp.  With  these  we  would  strike  at  the  sharks  as 
they  hovered  about  the  carcass  and  the  ship,  occa- 
sionally completely  severing  them  in  two  parts  ;  yet 
so  tenacious  were  they  of  life  that  they  would  swim 
to  some  distance  before  expiring. 

Shortly  after  this,  as  we  came  nearer  our  own 
country,  we  frequently  spoke  ships,  both  outward 
and  homeward  bound.  Sometimes  we  would  make 
a  point  of  stopping  to  spend  a  few  hours  of  sociality; 
or,  if  sailing  the  same  course,  keep  in  company  for 
a  day  or  two,  visiting  and  re-visiting  each  other. 
By  this  means  we  learned  a  little  of  the  things  that 
had  transpired  in  the  States  since  we  had  been  away> 


}  r 


004 


FA88AOE    HOME. 


Whilst  in  Van  Dieman  and  Australia,  1  had  not 
learned  a  word  of  tho  things  done  at  homo,  or  heard 
a  syllahle  from  my  friends,  though  I  had  written  at 
least  seven  or  eight  times.  But  I  afterward  learned 
that  not  a  line  of  them  had  ever  reached  their  desti- 
nation. Whether  they  ever  left  the  island,  is  a  ques- 
tion that  may  undoubtedly  be  answered  in  the  nega- 
tive. ■>'^'  -I  ••»  ^  '-•■  '■■■  '''  '•• 
■•  When  within  two  days'  sail  of  our  port,  we  were 
befogged  and  becalmed,  and  were  five  days  in  get- 
ting to  the  wharf.  At  this  time  my  impatience  to 
get  on  shore  was  so  great  that  each  day  seemed  al- 
most a  month. 

At  last,  on  the  thirty-first  day  of  May,  1848,  my 
foot  pressed  the  soil  of  glorious  New  England. 
Since  we  had  passed  from  the  sight  of  Van  Dieman, 
New  Bedford  was  the  first  land  that  we  had  greeted. 
Our  captain  made  no  stops,  and  having  nu  loading  of 
consequence,  and  on  the  whole  favorable  weather, 
we  were  but  four  months  and  a  half  between  Sydney 
and  Now  Bedford.  1  had  had  good  accommodations, 
plenty  of  exercise,  pure  air  and  wholesome  food,  so 
that  I  had  suffered  scarcely,  if  any.  Indeed  I  am 
inclined  to  think  the  voyage,  on  the  whole,  was  high- 
ly beneficial ;    in  some  respects,  J  am  confident  it 

was  so.  *•?-?^-!l•.y^'^1fl  01    ;;-.''MV  ;    i; 

But  here  I  was  again,  in  the  land  of  the  free.  I 
could  hardly  realize  it.  My  bosom  was  thronged 
with  the  most  tumultuous  feehngs.  Had  I  not  just 
awaked  from  a  dream  ?     Could  it  be  reality  ?     At 


i 
I 


PAB&AGE    HOME. 


225 


i 


lad  not 
I*  heard 
ttcn  at 
learned 
r  desti- 
a  ques- 
e  nega- 

e  were 

in  get- 

ence  to 

Tied  al- 

48,  my 
ngland. 
)ieman, 
greeted, 
ading  of 
t'eather, 
Sydney 
dations, 
food,  so 
id  I  am 
as  high- 
ident  it 

Vec.  I 
ironged 
Qot  just 
v?     At 


limes  1  was  almost  led  to  doubt  the  reality — to  think 
it  had  only  been  a  terrible  trance.  Yet  it  was  so. 
For  almost  ten  long  years — none  but  the  captive  can 
tell  what  heaviness  there  is  in  the  hours  of  time — 
had  I  been  forced  away — doomed  to  a  life  worse  than 
of  slavery,  compelled  to  bow  down  to  suffering  thai 
seemed  to  quite  crush  the  spirit  from  its  tenement, 
and  still  I  had  been  spared — how  miraculously ! — to 
return  again  to  my  kindred  and  my  home.  But  of 
those  kindred  and  that  home !  What  changes  hatt 
time  wrought  ?  Were  those  friends  living  ?  or,  was 
that  home  desolate  ?  These,  and  other  things  crowd- 
ed upon  my  mind  ;  and  for  the  two  nights  and  one 
day  I  was  at  New  Bedford,  not  a  wink  of  sleep  came 
to  my  eyelids.  Oh,  how  vividly  did  the  scenes  of 
my  life,  from  1838  to  that  moment,  throng  back  upon 
my  memory.  Then,  fancying  with  what  a  warm 
welcome  I  should  be  received  again  by  my  parents, 
brothers,  sisters  and  friends — the  thought  where  are 
they  ?  and  how  has  time  dealt  with  them  ?  would 
dash  the  joy,  and  l^ave  my  mind  in  a  harrowing 
suspense.     •     -  * 

The  second  day  of  June  I  stepped  into  the  cars 
for  Boston  ;  at  which  place  I  purchased  a  little  cloth- 
ing to  replenish  my  wardrobe,  which  had  become 
threadbare  :  thence  I  proceeded  by  the  same  con- 
veyance to  Utica,  where  I  took  the  stage  for  Water- 
town.  Here  I  began  to  make  inquiries  concerning 
my  friends,  but  could  learn  nothing.     I  kept  forward 

for  Cape  Vincent.     At  Chemaunt  (Shemo)  Bay,  ten 
15 


I 


r 


226 


HOME    AND 


miles  distant,  I  found  an  old  acqiiaintancs  who  had 
known  my  parents ;  yet  he  could  give  me  no  defi- 
nite information.  He  had  heard  nothing  of  them  for 
two  or  three  years,  nor  did  not  know  where  they  or 
the  other  members  of  the  family  were.  But  he  be- 
lieved that  either  my  father  or  eldest  brother,  he  did 
not  know  which,  was  dead.  This  vague  informa- 
served  only  to  make  more  intense  the  conflicting 
feclingfj  that  held  my  mind  in  suspense  ;  and  which 
continued  to  grow  stronger  and  stronger  as  I  neared 
my  old  home.  As  the  open  stage  approached  Cape 
Vincent,  I  was  recognized  by  a  little  Frenchman, 
who  immediately  spread  the  intelligence,  and  by  the 
time  I  alighted  at  the  hotel  I  was  completely  sur- 
roimded  bv  the  citizens,  who  welcomed  me  back  with 
cordial  greetings,  and  quite  overwhelmed  me  with 
the  multitude  of  their  questions.  Disengaging  my- 
self as  soon  as  possible  from  the  throng,  I  sought  the 
old  homestead  ;  but  instead  of  my  nearest  and  dear- 
est friends,  only  strangers  came  out  to  greet  me. 
This  was  quite  too  much.  I  was  discouraged  and 
ready  to  sink  down  in  despair.  A  falntness  came 
over  me  ;  from  which,  however,  I  soon  rallied.  I 
now  learned  that  my  parents  had,  two  or  three  years 
previously,  sold  out  and  started  for  Wisconsin.  My 
eldest  brother,  who  was  a  robust,  healthy  man,  when 
I  left,  hfid  been  dead  nearly  eight  years  ;  whilst  my 
other  brothers  and  sisters  were  scattered  here  and 
there.  I  had  now  remaining  a  lone  half  dollar  of  my 
funds,  which  was  all  the  means  I  possessed.     To 


ITS    FRIENDS. 


227 


who  had 
no  defi- 

them  for 
they  or 
it  he  he- 
r,  he  did 

informa- 
mflicting 
id  which 

I  neared 
bed  Cape 
mchman, 
tid  by  the 
etelv  sur- 
back  with 

me  with 
ging  my. 
nought  the 
[ind  dear- 
greet  me. 
aged  and 
less  came 
allied.  I 
iree  years 
sin.  My 
lan,  when 
.vhilst  my 
here  and 
liar  of  my 
sed.     To 


seek  my  parents  away  in  the  far  west,  where  1  could 
not  ascertain,  seemed  anotlicr  task  added  to  my  af- 
flictions. Still  I  gave  not  out,  but  continued  as  stout- 
hearted as  I  could.  I  remained  in  this  place  two 
weeks,  visiting  such  friends  and  relatives  as  yet  re- 
mained  there.         '        ♦';;•'•!.:;  <  .. 

Whilst  here  I  was  called  upon  by  a  gentleman 
from  Kingston,  who  olTered  me  his  homo  and  a  life 
of  ease,  if  I  would  but  accept  it.  He  said  that  Can- 
ada had  been  greatly  benefitted  by  the  outbreak  in 
which  we  had  been  concerned  ;  and  although  it  had 
failed,  and  lue  had  cruelly  suffered  therefor,  they  had 
secured  nearly  all  the  privileges  at  first  desired. 
And  as  he  had  himself  been  greatly  benefitted  there- 
by, he  wished  me  to  make  his  home  my  home,  and 
that  so  long  as  I  would  remain  with  him  I  should  not 
labor,  but  have  my  every  desire  granted.  I  thanked 
him  very  kindly  indeed,  but  assured  him  most  deci- 
dedly, that  1  had  no  inclination  whatever  to  reside 
under  British  rule,  for  1  had  already  been  compelled 
to  suffer  enough  of  her  barbarous  treatment.  But  if 
the  time  should  come  in  my  day,  when  it  would  be 
necessary  for  them  to  make  an  appeal  to  arms  for 
their  liberties  and  homes,  I  was  ready  to  give  again 
my  feeble  aid.  I  was  probably  somewhat  excited, 
and  replied  with  more  warmth  than  the  occasion 
called  for.  Be  that  as  it  may,  I  felt  stung  with  the 
injustice  I  had  suffered.  My  spirit  was  not  broken, 
and  though  I  had  been  chained  in  slavery  till  dooms- 
day, I  should  have  never  regretted  the  act  of  taking 


m 


228 


HOME    AND 


up  arms  as  I  did.  I  went  forward  under  the  dictates 
of  duty  ;  and  though  the  many  craven  hearts  turned 
back  when  danger  began  to  appear,  yet  the  cause 
was  none  the  less  worthy.  .     •  •    I 

From  Cape  Vincent  I  proceeded  to  Wilson  in  Ni- 
agara county,  where  I  had  ascertained  one  of  my  sis- 
ters, who  was  married,  was  living.  She  had  given 
up  all  hopes  of  my  returning,  and  was  therefore  not 
a  little  surprised  at  seeing  me,  and  was  nearly  over- 
come with  her  joy.  She  could  hardly  credit  her 
senses,  that  in  truth  it  was  her  brother  who  stood  be- 
fore her.  Here  I  remained  another  fortnight,  and 
learned  that  my  parents  had  not  gone  to  Wisconsin, 
but  had  stopped  on  the  way,  and  were  then  residing 
at  Aylmer,  in  C.  W.  This  was  better  news  for  me, 
and  I  began  to  hope  again  I  should  soon  see  them. 

I  left  Wilson  on  the  sixth  of  July  to  visit  my  father 
and  mother.  At  Buffalo  I  took  passage  on  the  "Ex- 
periment" for  Port  Stanley.  This  was  the  same 
steamer  that  had  ten  years  before  been  engaged 
against  us  at  the  Windmill.  She  had  been  brought 
upon  Lake  Erie  and  placed  upon  the  Hne  between 
these  two  ports.  It  was  an  unexpected  meeting,  and 
I  could  not  help  indulging  in  reflections  which  such 
a  circumstance  would  naturally  givv  rise  to.  Against 
the  innocent  boat  I  had  no  sort  of  ill  feeling.  But 
here  it  was  engaged  in  a  better  calling  than  when,  in 
r^ovember,  1838,  it  was  meide  an  instrument,  with 
its  sister,  the  Cobourg,  in  thwarting  the  effort  for 
liberty.  .       .,  .  , 


ITS    FRIENDS. 


229 


dictates 
s  turned 
le  cause 

n  in  Ni- 
f  my  sis- 
id  given 
fore  not 
ly  over- 
edit  her 
stood  be- 
yht,  and 
sconsin, 
residing 
3  for  me, 
}  them, 
ly  father 
he  "Ex- 
he  same 
engaged 
brought 
between 
ting,  and 
ich  such 
Against 
ig.  But 
when,  in 
!nt,  with 
ifTort  for 


I  had  not  been  on  board  long  when,  inquiring  the 
distance  to  Port  Stanley,  I  was  informed  by  a  couple 
of  gentlemen,  who  remarked  they  lived  near  there. 
This  knowledge  interested  me,  and  I  made  bold  to 
push  my  inquiries  farther,  when  1  found  they  lived 
at  Aylmer  and  near  my  friends.  I  then  inquired  for 
Touzer,  whom  I  had  learned  one  of  my  sisters  had 
married  five  years  before.  This  led  to  inquiries  on 
the  other  side,  when  I  was  informed  that  another  of 
my  sisters  lived  with  one  of  my  informants,  who  was 
a  hotel-keeper  at  Aylmer. 

We  spent  the  remainder  of  the  trip  quite  pleasant- 
ly, and  at  length  arrived  at  the  home  of  my  new 
friend,  where  soon  after  I  met  my  sister,  just  returned 
from  Touzer's.  To  him  I  was  introduced,  and  pres- 
ently all  three  of  us  turned  back  to  his  house.  On 
the  way  we  met  another  sister  and  brother,  who 
joined  our  party.  My  brother-in-law  introduced  me 
to  his  wife  as  a  friend  of  her  brother's,  who  had  just 
returned  from  Van  Dieman's  Land.  .  She  made  a 
few  inquiries,  and  remarked  that  they  had  heard  so 
many  accounts,  and  which  were  so  contradictory, 
that  she  could  place  but  little  confidence  in  any  of 
them.  At  one  time  they  had  been  told  I  was  acting 
as  servant  for  a  very  rich  man  at  a  salary  of  $500, 
with  scarce  any  thing  to.  do.  At  another  time,  that 
I  was  married,  and  doing  so  well  I  had  no  desire  to 
return  ;  and  had,  beside,  lost  all  aflection  for  my  kin- 
dred and  home.  And  again,  that  I  had  been  so  cru- 
elly treated  that  I  was  on  the  verge  of  the  grave,  and 


m 


m 


230 


HOME    AND 


It     I 


'<;.. 


probably  ere  then  gone  down  into  its  darkness  for- 
ever. Mrs.  Touzer  would  not  therefore  place  but 
little  confinence  in  my  story,  neither  believing  nor 
disbelieving  it — not  dreaming  that  it  was  indeed  her 
brother  himself  who  was  talking  with  her.  And  when 
I  was  declared  to  her  as  truly  her  brother,  she  would 
hardly  believe  it,  imagining  that  we  were  playing  a 
trick  upon  her.  Still  there  was  something  that  whis- 
pered to  her  it  was  even  so.  For  some  time  she  ap- 
peared bewildered,  as  it  were,  like  a  person  half 
waking  from  a  dream,  not  knowing  whether  it  were 
a  reality  or  a  phantasy.  My  brother  and  other  sis- 
ters pretty  readily  recognized  me,  although  I  had 
so  greatly  changed  in  appearance  that  but  a  few  tra- 
ces of  my  more  youthful  lineaments  remained.  My 
sister  was  soon  satisfied  that  I  was  indeed  her  broth- 
er William,  and  her  joy  was  now  so  great  it  could 
scarcely  be  controlled. 

It  was  midnight,  yet  we  all  started  for  my  father's, 
who  lived  a  mile  and  a  half  distant.  My  parents 
were  quite  aged ;  and  fearing  my  sudden  appear- 
ance might  too  greatly  overpower  their  feelings,  my 
brother  went  forward  to  break  the  news.  They 
could  scarcely  credit  the  information ;  but  by  the 
time  we  had  arrived  they  were  risen,  waiting  our  ap- 
proach. They  were  both  so  much  overcome,  that 
for  a  long  time  they  could  only  give  utterance  to 
their  feelings  through  their  tears  and  sobs.  It  was 
a  scene  that  beggars  description — one  of  those  times 
in  which  the  heart  can  feel  so  intensely,  that  tlw; 


ITS    FRIKNDS. 


231 


ncss  for- 
)lace  but 
ving  nor 
ideed  her 
^nd  when 
;he  would 
playing  a 
that  whis- 
le  she  np- 
rson  half 
r  it  were 
other  sis- 
gh  I  had 
a  few  tra- 
ced. My 
her  brotli- 
at  it  could 

y  father's, 
y  parents 
)u.  appear- 
slings,  my 
5.  They 
but  by  the 
ngourap' 
iome,  that 
terance  to 
'."  It  was 
hose  times 
y,  that  the 


tongue  is  dumb  and  the  pen  powerless.  With  them 
I  remained  three  months,  when  I  induced  them  to 
leave  Canada  and  return  again  to  the  States.  They 
were  anxious  I  should  remain  with  them,  as  a  solace 
in  their  old  age.  This,  too,  was  my  own  desire  ; 
but  I  could  not  bear  the  idea  of  staying  in  Canada, 
to  become  a  citizen  of  her  most  gracious  majesty's 
government — ^a  government  that  I  had  come  to  loathe 
with  an  abhorrence  as  sincere  as  it  was  deep. 
■  And  now,  my  reader,  I  have  done  with  "the  story 
of  my  wrongs."  Whatever  you  may  think  of  it, 
you  can  rest  assured  I  have  not  set  down  "aught  in 
malice,"  or  penned  that  which  is  asirb  from  truth. 
I  do  not  ask  that  your  opinions  should  coincide  with 
my  own.  I  grant  you  the  same  free  privilege  which 
is  my  own — to  think  according  to  the  light  that  may 
be  within.  But  were  fate  to  order  tha  you  should  be 
forced  through  similar  scenes,  there  would  be  no  mar- 
vel, if  your  soul  was  stirred  v/ith  deeper  indignation 
than  is  shown  within  these  pages. 

*'  Spurn  not  at  eeeniing  error,  but  dig  below  its  surface  for  the  IruUi; 
And  beware  of  seeming  truths,  that  grow  on  tiie  toots  of  error: 
For  comely  are  the  apidos  that  spring  from  the  Dead  Sea's  cursed  shore^ 
But  within  are  they  dust  and  ashes,  and  tlie  hand  that  pUicketh  thetn 
ehall  rue  it." 


THE     E  N  U  . 


